Paddy's Progress

Sparky

2012-01-19T21:15:00.000-06:00

His name is Sparky. I want to say he’s a dog. But to say he is just a dog is like saying that the Super Bowl is just a football game.

If you know me well you know that I am not the biggest fan of pets. I am not cruel or anything…just never been one to go overboard too much when it comes to domesticated animals.

But if you do know me well, you get a pet in front of me who is the coolest pet, the “best friend” that people sometimes call their pets and I am hooked. That is Sparky.

He could be the most annoying animal…whiney, barking, (my nickname for him is “barky”), never completely, fully house trained…yeah he could be very annoying to me. And I will confess, at times if he were mine, I might have considered foster care for the amount of care he needed. He is like a little child…even at 15+ yrs. old, (my daughter got him from a shelter when he was about one year old), this past Christmas he acted a like a little baby. In our home for less than a few hours…he made his mark on our carpet. But during his visit this past Christmas, for some reason, he would come and rest his head on my feet while I sat and watched television. Not once but several times throughout their visit this happened. I did not understand how much I will miss that now.

Reminds me of this past summer. Taking Jakob to spend some time with his sister, we stayed at the Embassy Suites in Birmingham, AL. They allowed dogs. Around 1:00 a.m. he is scratching at the door of our room telling someone he wanted to go potty. I was elected because I was the one who heard him and was awake. I leashed him up and left our room on the fifth floor. We left the elevator and if you are familiar with Embassy Suites they have immaculate garden areas, running streams through the lobby. Well Spark somehow thought he was outside and got out of the grip of his leash and started to make his mark in the garden area. I dragged him literally from the space spewing gravel, dirt, and bark all over the lobby trying to get him outside. I was more than a little upset. By the time we got outside he hardly had anything left. He just looked up at me as if to say, “Okay lets go back to the room and to bed.”

My daughter called us today to tell us that Sparky is sick. The Vet says it seems like congestive heart failure and they are trying to decide the next course of action. (While writing this late at night my daughter called us to talk about what was happening, how to move forward, what to say to our two little grandchildren).

I am sad. I a non-pet person find my heart overwhelmed not just for my daughter and her family or other members of my family who know and love and who Sparky has been a part of their life. I am sad because I care for him. He has broken through into my heart and I pray now that God will help Sparky and give wisdom to all those in deciding his care.

The author of Marley and Me writes:

“A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbol means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not.”

“Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.”

And his final words to Marley:

“You remember how we were always saying what a pain you are-that you're the world's worst dog? Don't believe it. Don't believe any of it for a minute. 'Cause you know we couldn't find a better dog. You know what made you such a great dog-is you loved us every day, no matter what. That's an amazing thing. You know how much we love you? We love you so much. I love you more than anything. I don't know exactly where we go from here...but I want you to remember you're a great dog, Marley. You're a great dog.”

Sparky…I love you and you are a GREAT dog!

Donald R. Goodman

2010-12-23T11:23:00.000-06:00

I just received a phone call from my Mom, telling me that my sister's father in law just passed away. Donald R. Goodman. Born with a strong work ethic, Don Sr., as I called him, was a man of character and care. Justice too marked his life, always wanting to see people treated fairly and honestly.
I met him after coming home from the Philippines as a missionary. I started working at the family roofing business, Ohrt & Goodman. Started in 1875, Ohrt & Goodman had a great reputation in the Western NY area in service and quality. Don Sr. showed that in everything he did. If you were a new customer, He treated you well and fairly. If you were an old customer you thought you were royalty.

After a couple of months on roofs, I transferred into the office as Ohrt & Goodman's "secretary", handling a lot of the office responsibilities and of course making sure Don Sr. was always served well and happy. Every morning I brought him his paper and a buttered alligator roll. He loved my coffee, (this is where I started to drink real coffee, real strong...).

He would review estimates that needed doing always taking the past customers he knew and because of his age, the single story roofs. One story sticks out is when Don Sr. had a call to do a garage roof for an old friend. His age again was showing as he forgot the address of the residence. He called me and gave me the name asking me to look up the address, (this is before GPS and Google Maps), I turned to the phone book found the name, gave him the address.

He then measured the roof, ordered the shingles for the next day and put one of our crews on it for the next day.

I am sitting in the office and get a call from someone who asked why we were putting a new roof on his garage...turned out their was a Sr. and a Jr. with the same last name living not too far from each other...I gave Don Sr. the Jr.s address.

We fixed the problem and I was upset and worried about my job...I never heard anything form Don Sr. though he might have had cause to get mad.

He was a member of the Lion's club and so part of my job was to help with Lion's club projects too. Charitable events, give aways and fund raising things..I think my 12 years in charitable work was sparked in part by Don Sr.s work and him involving me.

He loved his family so much. My sister was treated like his own daughter and his grand kids? They were the apple of his eye.

In Genesis 25:8, we read, "Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people"

Full of years speaks of the fullness of one's life. How full each day, week, month, and year was in purpose and fulfillment. That is how I view Don Sr.

I am sad and yet celebrate Donald R. Goodman's life. I will miss Don Sr. very much and my prayers go out to the entire family!

A Scoundrel experiencing a need for God.....

2010-08-26T10:56:00.000-05:00

I was praying for my family and friends in need today....and when I got to Jakob I experienced a refreshing reminder of his name sake, Jacob, son of Isaac.
My son is not a scoundrel..but Jacob son of Isaac was such a man. Conniving, tricking, stealing, lying, cheating...all these to try and receive some type of blessing from God.
When in the middle of the night in the midst of fear, self-inflicted trouble and pain, he wrestled with the Angel of the Lord and said, "I will not stop, I will not let go until I know I am blessed..."
That very night he was changed, physically, emotionally and most importantly spiritually. He went from Jacob, meaning scoundrel and cheat, to Israel, a "Prince with God"
In our most fearful and terrible times of life we wrestle with life not realizing that we are wrestling with God! We wrestle and we fight and we try to hold on and survive, when all the while we are in the presence of God in our struggle and God is wanting us to verbalize what we really need and want, a blessing from Him, a sense of His presence in the midst of the battle...and He wants to change not our circumstances but us. He wants us to become princes and princesses, His children who do not wrestle and fight, but who with faith can come to Him and tell Him how we feel, what we want, and show we know it is He who will provide all that is necessary for our life.
Let us let down our defenses, our restrictions, the walls that we think keep out the "stuff" of life that hurts and with arms wide open embrace the One who loves us, wants to help us, and wants more than anything for us to trust Him to do the work necessary to transform and change us from scoundrels to royalty!

I have never been much of a pet person...

2010-07-03T10:58:00.004-05:00

But then we all are different. And once in a while there are stories of people who love pets and I am inspried!

Marley and Me...just watched...again...for the umpteenth time, (when I get inspired and a movie moves my spirit and soul, I like to watch it a lot....) and looked up the story of the real life Marley and his owner John Grogan. Found these great quotes...almost makes me want to go out and get a dog..(I said almost...).

"A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty."

"A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbol means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not. As I wrote that farewell column to Marley, I realized it was all right there in front of us, if only we opened our eyes. Sometimes it took a dog with bad breath, worse manners, and pure intentions to help us see."

". . . owning a dog always ended with this sadness because dogs just don't live as long as people do."

"It's just the most amazing thing to love a dog, isn't it? It makes our relationships with people seem as boring as a bowl of oatmeal."

"Dogs are great. Bad dogs, if you can really call them that, are perhaps the greatest of them all."

"I had never thought of Marley as any kind of model, I was aware that maybe he held the secret for a good life. Never slow down, never look back, live each day w/ adolescent verve and spunk and curiosity and playfulness."

"In a dog's life, some plaster would fall, some cushions would open, some rugs would shred. Like any relationship, this one had its costs. They were costs we came to accept and balance against the joy and amusement and protection and companionship he gave us."

"Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them"

And their final moments together John Grogan and Marley....
"Then I dropped my forehead against his and sat there for a long time, as if I could telegraph a message through our two skulls, from my brain to his. I wanted to make him understand some things.
You know all that stuff we’ve always said about you?” I whispered. “What a total pain you are? Don’t believe it. Don’t believe it for a minute, Marley.” He needed to know that, and something more, too. There was something I had never told him, that no one ever had. I wanted him to hear it before he went. "Marley,” I said. “You are a great dog."

John Grogan

Joy comes through facebook....

2010-01-22T10:26:00.003-06:00

When I first registered for facebook I was met with cruelty by young people saying an old guy like me should not be on such a youthful networking site.

I actually erased my first posting because of it but then gave thought to the incredible tool it could be for me in my heart's desire to engage with people, minister where I could and communicate my heart of God, His love, His care, His provision...so I re-registered.

I have some friends who were missionaries with us in the Philippines. Incredibly gifted couple they took missions seriously and the work they did on the island of Mindanao always made me envious that I could not do what they did, even join them in the efforts, (mainly because I was not the same caliber of missionary at the time..).

Fastforward to the present the facebook. Bryan and Diane popped up on a suggested friends list and as funny as it seemed because I have always considered them friends from the past, I "friended" them and we have connected once again.

The other day a posting by both of them shared the news of their daughter Joy: "PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DAUGHTER JOY - this morning, a few hours before Diane was to fly to Uganda, we received a phone call from Nashville. Our daughter Joy had an aneurysm and may have brain surgery today. It's very serious and could be fatal or seriously debilitating. Diane and I are flying to Nashville at 10:30 this morning."

I can remember Joy as a young girl with curly hair, smart as a whip and very mature for her age. As I read this I added the entire family to my prayer list and posted a small post concerning our prayers. As I prayed I linked Bryan and Diane's facebook to my alert page so when they post I would get a hit to keep me updated.

Here are the next few posts from Bryan:

"Surgery has finally been scheduled for today (Sunday) 11:00 am (Nashville time), and it can only take place if they feel that the bleeding has slowed and the brain is more stable. If the surgery is successful, it would be at least ten more days before she would be out of the woods and begin the long road of rehabilitation. Joy's 3 daughters will move in with us and we pray that before their mommy will join them."

"....The surgery today was successful - praise God. Now, prayer is needed for 2 weeks of intensive care to be sure that the platinum coils inserted in the brain arteries fully attach and the arteries heal. The doctor said this critical period is as serious as the surgery. Thanks so much!"

"Please pray for our Joy to remain and for God to use this to do wonderful things in her life and in the lives of many. We are tired and scared, but trusting God. Due to her life situation, her health insurance had been cancelled and there are many difficult and complex factors about this situation besides her fight for life. Thank you so much for your love and prayers!"

"...Joy just came out of surgery and the doctor said it was successful. Praise God! He also said that the next 10-14 days are critical as that's the period when the aneurysm can rupture and be fatal. Therefore, she must be in intensive care for the next two weeks. If you could share the great news and also the need for two more weeks of prayer, that would be such a blessing. After 14 days, if all is well, she can move in with us and we will have to take care of her and her 3 girls for probably six months of recovery. They will do periodic CT scans and checkups for 2 years to be sure there is no recurrence. We are trusting God for the next two weeks and beyond and are believing that all of this will impact life for Joy and all of us in positive ways. "

"Our dear friends and family, Joy's surgery was a success and the doctor is very positive about the results. He said that she actually had a small aneurysm 3 weeks ago and should have died, but it remained a slow leak until it fully burst yesterday. God protected her even when we didn't know that her life was in danger. We are so grateful!"

"Yesterday, the doctor explained that Joy had both an aneurysm and a stroke. It's a miracle that she is alive. He also said that he never had a surgery go so smoothly and successful in his career, like Joy's did. She is taking, and told the doctor that it's because so many people are praying for her. Please keep praying, as she is still in critical condition and weak and in much pain. We are so grateful for you all!"

"The blood that's spread throughout Joy's brain from the aneurysm and stroke is causing tremendous head pain, so they increased her morphine. She had most of her hair cut off today. Tonight, Joy couldn't move her head, lift her arm or open her eyes. She is so weak and in such pain. Please increase the prayers. It's killing us to see her like this, but I am entrusting her to God who loves her more than I ever could."

"Diane spent the night with Joy, Laura the morning shift, and I'm on day duty. After vomiting again & more pain in the morning, Joy's CT scan revealed that some of the blood has dissipated. She opened her eyes, moved her arm & talked a little this afternoon -hooray! Keep up the prayers & loving thoughts & notes! Thanks so much for all that you all are doing and for the meals on wheels! We feel so blessed by you all!"

"Diane spent the night with Joy & had 2 hours sleep. Please pray for her. She gave Joy a sponge bath & fed her jello. Joy felt a little stronger & talked a bit. Your prayers for Joy and encouraging thoughts and words to her are working! Today is Cara, her oldest daughter's 10th birthday, and she will look in the window to... see her mom. Please pray for the 3 daughters - Cara, Adia & Sarayah, & for all our strength."

And his last posting late last night:

"The wonderful hospital actually allowed us to take Cara, Adia and Sarayah in to see Joy for a few short minutes and Joy was able to tell Cara again about the day she was born and how much that she loves her! Then, we celebrated with cupcakes and balloons outside Joy's hospital window. It will be a birthday to remember for sure!"

As I reread these postings and pray I marvel how we can see God using facebook not only to reconnect me with some old friends, but to see God use it to inspire me to pray for these friends during this time. How many more people do we all know out there who could use this for not just fun and networking, but for serious fellowship and prayer...I continue to pray for the Thomas family and ask that you pray for them too. I ask that all of us look at the world around us and the advancement in technology as tools for the ever expanding Kingdom of God! Lastly I thank God for bringing me Joy through facebook!

Joy, if you ever read this, thank you for allowing me the privilege of hearing about you once again and praying for you which in turn is blessing me beyond measure!

Everyday has come again...

2009-12-28T08:04:00.000-06:00

The house is still dark this early morning three days after Christmas. My wife and I are sleeping on the floor of our living room with my son Jakob and our two year old granddaughter. The rest of the rooms of our house are filled. Filled with family here for the Christmas holiday. I cannot get back to sleep, so I try to quietly arise from the mattress on the floor and sneak into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. I move to another room for a moment and there I see my oldest son. He has let out the visiting dog, (yes we have our family and a couple of their pets with us too).
I look around to see where I can sit quietly and drink my coffee and see that the sun is trying to make its way to the eastern horizon. So I slip out onto the back porch and look at the thermometer and though it says it is 20 degrees, I am okay with my thick bathrobe and cup of coffee.
As I look to the east I see the slight glowing of the eventual sunrise and notice cars and truck still with lights on pulling into the Chesapeake parking lot, (thank you again Chesapeake employees for your wonderful generosity to the Waynoka Food Pantry)!. It’s Monday. The Monday after Christmas and people are getting back to their everyday. The things we do everyday have come back and life and work resumes to their normal patterns just like a month or two before we entered the Christmas season. Gone are the expectations of Christmas coming. Memories have been made from yet another Christmas day. Everyday has returned and I sit and wonder what this Christmas brought to us all and how it will affect our everyday.
Sure the lights and trees and decorations are still visible, but their meaning and beauty has diminished a little because Christmas has passed. We sit and we think about the trimmings of Christmas and how soon it will be that we must start removing the decorations, packing them away till next year, (As of today, December 31, there are 359 days left till Christmascomes again)!
How will we let this past Christmas affect us? How will we reflect upon yet another celebration of the coming of Christ? How will we live a little differently because we know the Christ child has come, and the King of Kings has lived, and the Lord of the universe has died for us so that we can become the children of God?
Let us resolve ourselves to making sure that this past Christmas and Christmases to come make us more committed to God and Christ; to love others as ourselves, to serve, to care to love. May we never forget the “Real Reason for the Season” because you see we are the reason for the season, Christ coming to be our Savior! After all if we did not need a Savior Christ might not have come at all! Let us not pack away Christ with the Christmas décor and keep Him present in our hearts and lives always!

The Bend in the Road

2009-11-13T10:59:00.002-06:00

As I at my desk today I was thinking of some folk who are going through some hard times.
As I prayed for them I thought of an old poem by Helen Stenier Rice, "The Ambassador of Sunshine" who wrote thousands of peoms and lent them to greeting cards for more than 65 years. Her poems still grace greeting cards today...

"The Bend in the Road"

When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the “song has ended”–
When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended.

Where can we go to find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying,
Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying–

There’s but one place to go and that is to God
And, dropping all pretense and pride,
We can pour out our problems without restraint
And gain strength with Him at our side–

And together we stand at life’s crossroads
And view what we think is the end,
But God has a much bigger vision
And He tells us it’s only a bend–

For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the “pause in the song” is a “rest”,
And the part that’s unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best–

So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load,
Your work is not finished or ended,
You’ve just come to “a bend in the road”.

Helen Steiner Rice

Contentment

2009-11-05T08:15:00.004-06:00

Being a city boy I am not used to country living. Most of what I know is by stories. One story I have heard often is from the saying the grasser is greener on the other side. I never really experienced this more than driving down Lincoln to my office the other day. There they were, five cattle stretching their necks through the barbed wire fence trying to eat grass which was really out of their reach yet they used every inch of their bodies they could to eat some of the grass on the other side of the fence.

Was the grass greener? Was it tastier than the grass within their reach, right at their feet in the field they walked? Acres of grass with no real effort and yet they were not content to eat it. They had to reach and stretch, even risk injury from the sharp fence to get something they perceived as better.

Contentment. We forget that real contentment is not getting what we do not have but appreciating what we do have. We are malcontent and disgruntled when we cannot get what we want. This has even started fights and wars. The Book of James says in chapter four verses one and two: What about the feuds and struggles that exist among you—where do you suppose they come from? Can’t you see that they arise from conflicting passions within yourselves? You crave for something and don’t get it; you are murderously jealous of what others have and which you cannot possess yourselves; you struggle and fight with one another. Oh how we covet what we do not have and forget to give thanks and be content with what we do have!

Paul the Apostle wrote concerning contentment n the book of Philippians when he wrote how he learned the secret of contentment. He writes in Philippians 4:11: “I have learned to be content with whatever I have…” The word ‘learned’ does not mean he learned this from much study, taking classes or reading a book. Rather he says I have understood from experience how to be content. He continues: “I have learned to have much and I have learned to have little.” Then he writes these wonderful words: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”, endurance, the ability to be content in every and all circumstances!

It is the experiences of life brought to us like a gift from God that builds this kind of contentment, this faith to believe God for everything. To rest and not be anxious.
But what happens when we cannot rest or be content. What happens when we are anxious and stress feels like a huge wave of water overcoming us making us feel as though we were drowning?

Philippians 4: 6 says Do not be anxious… the original meaning in the New Testament is STOP IT, DON’T BE ANXIOUS! Notice the emphasis? It is what is called imperative, a command. Paul goes on to say “Rather, pray, for everything in every situation.” God through Paul does not tell us to do something without giving something else for us to do in return. Pray about everything. EVERYTHING! And see what happens in verse seven? Does God then give us what we want? No! He gives us something even better: “And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! Guards our hearts and our minds…why? Because we not only feel emotionally discontent, we also think about it and stir it up in our minds like a boiling pot the perceived miscarriage of justice, the thing we desire keeping us from real peace and contentment. Now here is the thing we receive from God, His promise of guarding, or garrisons our hearts and minds. God literally builds a fortress around us to protect us after we acknowledge the truth of our discontent.

How long will He do this? How long will God stand guard over us in our troubles? Hebrews 13:5 tells us that He will never ever leave us and He, God, will never ever forsake us.

RE; Received this note from a dear co-laborer in our days in the Philippians

2009-11-03T17:09:00.002-06:00

From: Doug Nichols, Founder & International Director Emeritus, ACTION International

Sent:11/3/09

Re: Home, But Not Alone

Sick, but cared for, but not street children … “…always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people” (1 Thessalonians 5:15, NASB).

Recently my wife talked me into staying home to work from the house. It seems that a cold has hit me with a vengeance. Perhaps the cold is a result of my excessive travel and work schedules these last several weeks. I have had difficulty sleeping because of jet lag, but when I lay down after lunch, I immediately drifted off.

As I lay on the bed, there was fresh air blowing in from the window, the smell of homemade bread, the sheets were warm and clean. Margaret made sure I was eating well and drinking fluids, and to top it off, she brought me chicken noodle soup and bread that you could smell for a block! To say the least, I was well taken care of.

As I closed my eyes, I couldn’t help but see the street children I have come to love. What do they do when they are ill? Where do they sleep? Who cares for them? Believe me, there is no fresh water to drink, no smell of homemade bread, and no chicken noodle soup. There may be scraps from a garbage dump, but they have no energy to forage for it. There is no place for them to sleep in safety, no soft bed, no toilet or fresh air—only the polluted filthy smell of an unfriendly alley.

There are 160 million street children throughout the world. In the major cities in which we work – Lusaka, Lilongwe, Kampala, São Paulo, Bogotá, Mexico City, Phom Penh, Manila–street children simply exist by animal instinct. Would you pray for ACTION and other ministries which are reaching out to street and underprivileged children with the glorious Gospel of Christ and compassionate care.

We are praying for 100 additional missionaries from age 21 to 70 to work on the street with children. Perhaps you sense God’s calling to serve with our team among 160 million street children of the world. If so, just write or call any of us in ACTION. It will mean more to us than homemade soup!

Sincerely in Christ,

Doug Nichols

Thank you Doug for your heart and the reminder of the great needs around the world!

'On My 75th Spiritual Birthday ...' A letter from Billy Graham

2009-10-22T08:41:00.003-05:00

I received this email from the Billy Graham Association today. It is an open letter from Billy Graham. For years I heard how Dr. Graham received Christ while attending a Mordecai Ham crusade, but did not know it was a local business man, a tailor who sealed the deal for the soul of Billy. Here is the letter:

The first of November this year marks my 75th spiritual birthday. I was not quite 16 when a visiting evangelist named Mordecai Ham began daily revival meetings across town from my parents’ dairy farm in Charlotte, N.C. For awhile I wasn’t interested, but my mother was praying for me as she had been for years.

One day an older friend, who also had been praying for me, offered to let me drive his truck if I’d go to the meetings with him. It was an enticement that an almost-16-year-old boy could not resist.

Once I heard Dr. Ham preach, I became intrigued and attended again and again. I felt a longing to experience God’s love in a more personal way. When the Holy Spirit brought me under conviction of sin, I felt the preacher was speaking only to me. A buddy and I even joined the choir so we could sit behind the preacher instead of directly under his gaze.

Finally on the first day of November, a Thursday, during the last verse of the last song of the evening, I simply got up and walked to the front. Once there, I wasn’t sure what to say or do, but a tailor who knew my family approached me, explained the Gospel in a very simple way, then guided me in a prayer. I acknowledged my sinfulness to God, asked for forgiveness because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, and by faith invited Him to become Lord of my life.

My father came down the aisle and put his arm around me. When I got home, my mother rejoiced that I had finally surrendered my life to the Lord Jesus.

My Heart is Filled

I’ll be 91 years old in a few weeks, but those memories are as vivid to me as ever. I’ve experienced God’s gracious love in a personal way all these years, and today my heart is filled with gratitude for all He has done for me.

I hope you are praying for lost loved ones and friends, just as my mother and my older friend did. It is so important to pray for people you know who need Jesus, and to keep praying. Don’t give up. The Bible says that the intense prayer of a righteous person has great power (see James 5:16).

With the Thanksgiving season approaching, I cannot find adequate words to thank our Lord Jesus Christ for coming to “seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10, NLT), including me. The Bible tells us to “be thankful in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and I hope you will do that today, no matter what your circumstances may be.

May God bless you,

Billy Graham

Thank the Lord with me won't you for the faithfulness of this tailor, for Billy's faithfulness to respond to the Gospel message, for the millions, yes millions who have been touched by this wonderful servant of God and most of all God who takes us where we are at and uses us in many wonderful and exciting ways!

The Year from Hell...(Or Maybe Heaven...?)

2009-10-15T14:41:00.002-05:00

Just read a story from the book "Learning to Dance in the Rain" entitled The Year from Hell.
Here is Julie Anna Hill in her own words:
It was the Year from Hell - September 1993 to September 1994 - the dog died, my marriage of 24 years ended, and my house burned down. I had moved into a new rented house with my youngest son, after my husband and I split up. We'd been in the house just six weeks. I went to a dinner party one night, and as I drove home, I saw helicopters hovering in the general vicinity of my new home. Smoke was billowing into the sky, and sirens were wailing. As I got closer, I thought, Wouldnt it be awful if that was my house? Then I turned the corner, and sure enough, it was my house. I was devastated. It had been such a horrible year, and now everything I owned had gone up in smoke. Mementos, baby pictures, family keepsakes, clothes, furniture - everything was destroyed.
My marriage was gone, my dog was gone, my home was gone, and all my worldly possessions, except my car and the clothes on my back, were gone too. My son and I stayed with a friend for a couple of nights. Then my friend Gail heard about the fire, called me up, and said, "Come move into my house. I have seven bedrooms and five bathrooms - plenty of space for you and your son." It was a sprawling ranch house on a double lot in La Jolla, with an ocean view, to boot. Gail had three kids at home, but there was still plenty of room for me and my son, Sutton. Her offer was a godsend. Little did I know that her offer of a temporary place to stay would turn into a living arrangement that lasted two and a half years.
Gail and I had a lot in common. We had both been raised Catholic and our unconscious minds had been programmed the same way - we saw ourselves as good little Catholic girls who were gonna stay married forever. But both of our husbands decided they didn't want to be married anymore, and so here we were, two single mothers, dazed, confused, and in a fog. We had followed the rules...why were we not happy? Gail and I spent the next couple of years sorting out a lot of things together.
After we moved in, I soon began to look for a permanent place to live. After a few weeks, Gail said, "Please don't leave. I've never had so much freedom!" Having me in the house meant someone to help take care of her kids, someone to share cooking and gardening, and someone to share day-to-day life. She loved having me there and I loved being there. So we stayed. It was an important chapter in my life. Gail and I gardened together, talking back and forth as we worked in the soil. We both needed time to heal from our divorces, time to sort out the confusion, time to get some clarity on the past and some focus on the future. It was a time of deeper insight and spiritual growth for both of us. Over time, I grew to realize how strong I really was, how even-tempered, and how I really could get my act together and go on with my life.
Gail's generosity was more than anyone could ever ask or expect from a friend. She gave me a safe haven in which to mourn and heal and grow into the next chapter of my life. She showed her love in countless ways. I am eternally grateful to have a friend like Gail.I'm also grateful for the lessons I learned from the fire and the other losses that came so suddenly, so fast. Much to my surprise, I found gratitude among the ashes. I was tested sorely - literally trial by fire. But, like a phoenix, I rose from the ashes strong and whole. I would not be the person I am today if not for that Year from Hell.
I, Michael, would challenge Julie by saying who says that Heaven's hand was not in play to help her, guide her and bring her to the conclusion that: "I would not be the person I am today if not for that Year from Hell."

A Poem for My Youngest...Jakob by Dad

2009-08-28T20:34:00.002-05:00

A Little Boy (who came of late)

A little boy (who came of late)
Behind the three who are now tall,
(He is so small),
All boy he is rambunction running, his subtle smile reveals what’s coming.
Then without warning he slows and mellows something else had caught his eye.
His energy peaks he lets out a tired sigh.
He questions things we often pass as normal things of a boring day.
And makes us wonder what is urgent to see, to do, to say.
Some days we wish he'd never grow old rearrange his thoughts, his mischievous actions
Divide his life into small measurable fractions.
Things accomplished and things well done.
And just instead be that wee small boy and enjoy himself our son.

Why Don't We Listen Better?

2009-08-05T15:44:00.002-05:00

Petersen, James C. 2007. Why don’t we listen better? Communicating and connecting in relationships. Tigard, OR: Petersen Publications

“To every one of you who wants deeper connections with people, to get along better with them, and to do what you can to enrich their lives. To those of you who listened to me with a challenging acceptance. It touched me, grew me, and held me together. To all of you who let me in on your lives – your struggles, your failures, and your successes…And for all of you: May you not only listen to those around you, but hear them in a way that encourages creativity, collaboration, and growth. May your footprints always lead others on paths of love and justice” (v).

In Dr. Petersen’s dedication, he communicates his desired outcome of all those who read Why Don’t We Listen Better (2007). Good, healthy, communication skills is the key in trying to connect and relate with people. More a manual than a book it is “designed to be read in short sections…you can revisit pieces you want to focus on” (8). The book is also a journey of self-discovery. After many years of using communication techniques, Peterson still revisits the material to “rethink” (8) how he relates to others.

The concept of how communication evolves is represented by three centers of our body, our brain, our heart and our stomach. Each represents a part of the communication process where our words are visible and discerned by the listener. The brain is the thought area of our speech. It is where we formulate what words we use and how we use them. The stomach is our emotional area. What emotions are we trying to communicate? The heart is where it all is put together and we speak. A balanced communicator can take thoughts and emotions and meld them into helpful productive communication. A disproportionate blend of either too much brain or too much stomach creates flat-brained syndrome where it is all emotion and no thought, or the flat-brain tango, all thought no emotion.

The Talker-Listener Process is the key to creating an environment where two or more people can talk and listen to each other well promoting a healthy communication atmosphere. The Talker Listener Card, (TLC), can help those who want to improve their ability to interact with others and communicate better, especially the listening aspect.

Its design is crafted to be a helpful reminder of the roles of the Talker and the Listener. The TLC can be folded into a tent shaped stand with the sides of the tent facing two people who are trying to communicate. It helps with clear description, goals and actions of each in the communication process. The TLC is like a traffic light helping the individuals facing the card to understand what they need to be doing at that moment depending on whether they are the Talker, or the Listener.

The book moves onto developing good communication skills using honest authentic listening techniques Petersen offers. We can start by avoiding the traps listeners often fall into when faining their interest in another’s words. There is a whole section filled with helpful suggestions in employing good questions, body language and appropriate comments to keep us engaged with each other. The author also offers advice on helping us understand the communication process in stressful and unusually difficult circumstances.

Petersen’s premise: to continually learn to listen better making communication a relationship building opportunity for everyone.

I was born to talk. Whenever I am communicating with someone, I make sure that everyone in fifteen minutes or less knows all about me. They will know anything and everything I know about almost anything and everything and exactly how I am feeling at any given moment. Every personality test and performance evaluation, I have taken comments on how I could learn to listen better.

Reading Petersen’s book was painful because it reminded me not of how far I have come but the underlying need in my own personal life to continue to learn to listen better. I have a great capacity for empathy and spiritual gifts that exemplify the potential of being a good counselor and pastor. The underlying need of trying to shut up and listen keeps me from being a great minister to people.

What I did understand and absolutely embrace was the concept that we are complex beings and talking is a huge part of how we express ourselves. I become dysfunctional in my capacity to communicate well, when I listen little and talk a lot. I will continue this pattern if I do not bring good communications to bear on my life.

We laugh now, but a dear friend of mine still talk about our first meeting. After introductions, we, (I), started to talk. I am not sure how long we, (I), talked before during a momentary pause in our, (my), conversation he said, “You know I think I know more about you in the past little while we, (you, Michael), have been talking, than I know my wife who I have been married to for eight years.”

Ouch! Said with grace and still very good friends after all these years, am I better than twelve years ago? Yes! Have I perfected the art of listening? By no means whatsoever!

Petersen’s book reminded me of the potential consequences of not listening well. It also explained some of the flat-brained syndrome and tango moments in my life.

The most penetrating truth is how it interacts with Hawkins’ counseling model, specifically what I believe to be the most important part of the counseling scenario, the preparation, experience and education of the counselor. How can a counselor be successful in treating, helping and offering hope to those in need if he cannot develop the most important of all skills in the counseling arsenal, listening?

Having struggled a lifetime in the area of becoming a better listener, Petersen’s techniques were good and they are listed to help us understand some of the environments we might face and how to listen well.

The preparation process compliments the TLC by the ability I have to analyze my personality and experience as well as to understand my immediate mood and feelings. Knowing more about the brain, stomach, and heart functions in communicating helps me to clarify my thinking and understand my immediate emotional disposition. This in turn helps me become more of an authentic communicator/listener and builds confidence in me in the process.

The last and most profound truth found in the book is how Petersen is still learning. Saying he reviews these principles often to continue to be a better listener offers hope for me and others to know this life long journey of learning and communication growth is effective as long as we are aware of the need, the solutions available to us and the application of the truth of these principles.

After reading Petersen, I want to write and journal my experiences of reading this book and call it “I Now Know More About Why I Do Not Listen Better!”
A few things popped off the page in helping become better at listening, communicating and a better counselor. The first was the TLC. I am already using the TLC. When folded in my hand with the listener portion facing me it provides me with a tool to see my role in the conversation. The TLC reminds me of a conference I attended where the Native American talking stick was employed. Who ever held the stick could speak uninterrupted while holding the stick. Others could speak only when the one holding the stick gave up the possession of the talking stick. As long as I hold the listener portion towards me it helps me focus when I might be tempted to stop or stall the conversation.

The next part was the area of listening for the lull in the conversation; the talker seems finished or is thinking of something to say. It is in those moments that I can try to redefine what I heard, ask questions; when appropriate tell them something that helps them know I understand. Petersen says, “Listen awhile, talk until the other person stops hearing, and listen until the person calms enough to hear again” (5). Let the conversation be like a dance, a ballet where two are dancing sometimes in harmony or where the focus is on one dancer at a time.

A helpful implementing suggestion is given when conversing with a talker who is rigid in their communication. They use loaded, pressure words like should, ought to, have to, must, need, the only way, always, or never. Inserting ‘stomach’ language into the listening feedback can reduce some of the pushy quality and help the talker see what is underneath their language. These for me are awkward moments trying to get a talker to use a more balanced talking style. Using some of the suggestion given can help relieve the flat-brained syndrome atmosphere.

The last chapter speaks loudly to all of us in learning to communicate better, “Beyond Skill” (209). This last portion takes me past what is written to a place where I can develop a lifelong learning habit of trying to listen well, talk better and become more proficient at communicating. The traits mentioned empathy, genuineness, and warmth appear in every spiritual giftedness and personality test I take. Taking these qualities and making myself more therapeutic than thera-noxious, takes discipline and desire. Petersen’s advice echoes the advice

I heard long ago and still am trying to implement, “When you find yourself around people of influence, experience, and knowledge, ask two to three questions then shut up and listen to what they have to say…only interrupt to clarify what is being said or to go to the bathroom.”

Who Packed Your Parachute? (An Excerpt from Aim for the Heart, Tom Mathews)

2009-07-10T11:32:00.006-05:00

As a leader, do you honor and appreciate the power of WE? Do you stop to thank and recognize the members of your team? Do you consistently show an attitude of gratitude? I recently read a great story about Captain Charles Plumb, a graduate from the Naval Academy, whose plane, after 74 successful combat missions over North Vietnam, was shot down.

He parachuted to safety, but was captured, tortured and spent 2,103 days in a small box-like cell.After surviving the ordeal, Captain Plumb received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit and two Purple Hearts, and returned to America and spoke to many groups about his experience and how it compared to the challenges of every day life.

Shortly after coming home, Charlie and his wife were sitting in a restaurant. A man rose from a nearby table, walked over and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"Surprised that he was recognized, Charlie responded, "How in the world did you know that?" The man replied, "I packed your parachute." Charlie looked up with surprise. The man pumped his hand, gave a thumbs-up, and said, "I guess it worked!"Charlie stood to shake the man's hand, and assured him, "It most certainly did work. If it had not worked, I would not be here today."

Charlie could not sleep that night, thinking about the man. He wondered if he might have seen him and not even said, "Good morning, how are you?" He thought of the many hours the sailor had spent bending over a long wooden table in the bottom of the ship, carefully folding the silks and weaving the shrouds of each chute, each time holding in his hands the fate of someone he didn't know.

Plumb then began to realize that along with the physical parachute, he needed mental, emotional and spiritual parachutes. He had called on all these supports during his long and painful ordeal.As a leader, how many times a day, a week, a month, do we pass up the opportunity to thank those people in our organization who are "packing our parachutes?" (Mathews 2009: 66)

Mathews, Tom. 2009. Aim For the Heart. Naperville: Simple Truths, LLC

OMG..............by Dr. David Jeremiah

2009-07-07T11:23:00.001-05:00

O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me.Psalm 25:2It's almost impossible to turn on the television without hearing someone exclaim, "Oh my G--!"
In the popular culture, it's even been reduced to an acronym: OMG. There are times when such an expression is an appropriate prayer in a crisis (the phrase "O my God" appears twenty-one times in the Bible), but for the most part it simply represents a degrading of that Hallowed Name.
Our society wants to reduce our Lord to a profanity and diminish His name to a vulgarity.Jesus said, "Hallowed be Thy Name." The Bible says, "Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon His God" (Isaiah 50:10).
The name of our Lord is to be hallowed, feared, reverenced, trusted, and loved. Praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the LORD's name is to be praised (Psalm 113:1-3).
"How we use the name of God reveals more clearly than any creed we ever confess our deepest attitudes towards the God of the sacred name."R. C. Sproul

Father's Day

2009-06-19T11:20:00.002-05:00

The idea for an official Father’s Day celebration came to a married daughter, seated in a church in Spokane, Washington, attentive to a Sunday sermon on Mother’s Day in 1910-two years after the first Mother’s Day observance in West Virginia.
The daughter was Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd. During the sermon, which extolled maternal sacrifices made for children, Mrs. Dodd realized that in her own family it had been her father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran, who had sacrificed-raising herself and five sons alone, following the early death of his wife in childbirth. For Mrs. Dodd, the hardships her father had endured on their eastern Washington farm called to mind the unsung feats of fathers everywhere.
Her proposed local Father’s Day celebration received strong support from the town’s ministers and members of the Spokane YMCA. The date suggested for the festivities, June 5, Mrs. Dodd’s father’s birthdays were three weeks away-had to be moved back to the nineteenth when ministers claimed they need extra time to prepare sermons on such a new subject as Father.
Newspapers across the country, already endorsing the need for a national Mother’s Day, carried stories about the unique Spokane observance. Interest in Father’s Day increased. Among the first notables to support Mrs. Dodd’s idea nationally was the orator and political leader William Jennings Bryan, who also backed Mother’s Day. Believing that fathers must not be slighted, he wrote to Mrs. Dodd, "too much emphasis cannot be placed upon the relation between parent and child."
Father’s Day, however, was not so quickly accepted as Mother’s Day. Members of the all-male Congress felt that a move to proclaim the day official might be interpreted as a self-congratulatory pat on the back.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson and his family personally observed the day. And in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recommended that states, if they wished, should hold their own Father’s Day observances. He wrote to the nation’s governors that "the widespread observance of this occasion is calculated to establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children, and also to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations."
Many people attempted to secure official recognition for Father’s Day. One of the most notable efforts was made in 1957, by Senator Margaret Chase Smith, who wrote forcefully to Congress that "Either we honor both our parents, mother and father, or let us desist from honoring either one. But to single out just one of our two parents and omit the other is the most grievous insult imaginable."
Eventually, in 1972-sixty-two years after it was proposed-Father’s Day was permanently established by President Richard Nixon. Historians seeking an ancient precedent for an official Father’s Day observance have come up with only one: The Romans, every February, honored fathers-but only those deceased.
In America today, Father’s Day is the fifth-largest card-sending occasion, with about 85 million greeting cards exchanged.
Happy Father's Day to all who are a Dad, Father or Grandfather!

Anthony Burger...

2009-06-17T11:48:00.003-05:00

I was listening to a cd I received from a friend filled with music of Anthony Burger. I was so moved by the music I went online to see if I could get anymore of his music only to find that Anthony Burger, who played piano for the Gaithers' for years, was on a Gaither cruise and in the middle of the concert died of a massive heart attack back in 2006.

One of my favorite people and authors, Rebecca Pippert, was on the cruise and wrote the following concerning the passing of Anthony Burger:

Salt & Light by Rebecca Pippert
On February 18th my husband Dick and I boarded the Holland America cruise ship, the Zuiderdam, headed for the Caribbean. I was invited to be the Bible teacher for one week at sea aboard a cruise hosted by Bill and Gloria Gaither. The Gaither’s, probably the most famous musical couple in America, have written countless Christian songs that are sung in churches world-wide. As we boarded the ship Bill said “Becky, I can’t believe this is your first cruise. Trust me, it will be the experience of a life time!” One week later as the ship docked, Bill looked at me with sadness and said, “I never intended my words to be so prophetic.”
A Gaither cruise is utterly unique. For starters they are the only ministry in America who can fill up an entire cruise ship of 1,800 people! By day, after the Bible teaching, we explore various islands; by night we are treated to praise concerts with phenomenally gifted artists.
It was mid-week of the cruise, after a perfect day of sun and fun, when throngs of us crowded into the theater for the evening praise concert. That night, in typical Gaither concert-style, the musical artists sat in rows of seats on one side of the stage while Anthony Burger, Gaither’s pianist for the past 15 years and considered one of the finest key-boardist in the country, played the grand piano on the other side. During the concert he played I’m Getting Ready to Leave this World and halfway through Burger performed an electrifying solo Hear My Song Lord. By the song’s end everyone was standing in thunderous applause.
Anthony resumed playing accompaniment for a double trio of musical artists: then the unthinkable happened. Anthony Burger, only 44 years of age and with no previous heart problems, suffered a massive heart-attack on stage and died almost instantly.
We were 800 miles from the home-port and at sea - and the staff had difficult decisions to make. How were we to honor Anthony’s memory, honestly process our grief, while placing our faith solidly in the Risen Lord? But God met us in profound ways. The decision was made that in place of the mini-concert that was scheduled for the following morning, we would meet instead for worship and prayer. The worship music and lyrics that next morning were overwhelmingly powerful. When one of the artists sang “I wonder what Heaven will be like?” the presence of God was palpable. We grieved, and yet the far greater reality in that very concert hall where Anthony had died the night before, was one of hope, promise, and joy that is rooted in this simple truth: I know that My Redeemer lives and on that day I shall see Him face to face.
Anthony’s death affected the passengers but it also affected the cruise staff. There were 1,000 staff comprised mainly of young people who, for the most part, do not know the Lord. They often say they desired to see the world before settling down to “real jobs.” Niki, a hairdresser on the cruise, said to me “All of the staff has noticed how special the people are on this cruise. Everyone is so kind and loving. So we were devastated when we got the news of Anthony’s death. Yet even though I’ve seen people grieve, there is something else going on that I can’t quite describe. It’s as if something glorious is happening at the same time. Why is that?”
As I shared the simple gospel she listened with rapt attention. “Look at how the hairs on my arm are standing straight up!” she said. As the day progressed another believer, Mary, came to have her hair done. When Niki told her about our conversation Mary said, “Would you like to have one of Becky’s books?” “Oh my goodness, I didn’t realize that Becky was an author. Yes!” Niki responded. By divine coincidence Mary had just bought my book Hope Has Its Reasons and gave it to her. Niki enthusiastically received it and said “Once I finish reading this I am going to pass it on to the other staff.” Still later in the day another believer came, and soon Niki began regaling her with all that had happened that day: “First, I met Becky and she tells me about Jesus and why it’s possible to have hope, even in the midst of crisis. Then another client gave me Becky’s book. I tell you what, I’ve decided that in the next 5 years I’m going to buy a Bible and even read it!” With that the Christian woman sitting in the chair, reached into her tote-bag and pulled out her worn, underlined Bible and said “Dear, don’t wait for years, don’t even wait until tomorrow. This is my Bible and I’m giving it to you as a gift. All I ask is that you start reading it today – and start with one of the gospels.” And that is only one of countless stories I heard.
What is clear is that people are the most open to God in times of pain and crisis. And they closely watch us as we go through our own difficulties. Suffering – especially when it concerns the eternal issues of life and death – provides a very rich soil for ministry.
But we also learned something about living in the 21st century. While all of us were processing our shock and grief in the middle of the ocean, the New York Times picked up the story and within 8 hours of his death the story was reported in most major newspapers around the world - before we had even docked!

Life is a precious gift that we must never take for granted.
Before the foundation of time God chose, and God alone knows, the number of our days.
Therefore we must live every day of our lives in adoration and joyful service to Christ.
The truth is only God knows the length of our days. So let us glorify God and enjoy Him forever, as the Westminster Shorter Catechism says. Serving him with fervent joy: Our Utmost for His Highest."

http://www.anthonyburger.com/

Seriously, the courts can make arguements like this...? "The Lord Justice Hath Ruled: Pringles Are Potato Chips!"

2009-06-02T10:39:00.003-05:00

Britain’s Supreme Court of Judicature has answered a question that has long puzzled late-night dorm-room snackers: What, exactly, is a Pringle? With citations ranging from Baroness Hale of Richmond to Oliver Wendell Holmes, Lord Justice Robin Jacob concluded that, legally, it is a potato chip.
The decision is bad news for Procter & Gamble U.K., which now owes $160 million in taxes. It is good news for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs — and for fans of no-nonsense legal opinions. It is also a reminder, as conservatives begin attacking Judge Sonia Sotomayor for not being a “strict constructionist,” of the pointlessness of labels like that.
In Britain, most foods are exempt from the value-added tax, but potato chips — known as crisps — and “similar products made from the potato, or from potato flour,” are taxable. Procter & Gamble, in what could be considered a plea for strict construction, argued that Pringles — which are about 40 percent potato flour, but also contain corn, rice and wheat — should not be considered potato chips or “similar products.” Rather, they are “savory snacks.”
The VAT and Duties Tribunal disagreed, ruling that Pringles — which have been marketed in the United States as “potato chips” — are taxable. “There are other ingredients,” the tribunal said, but a Pringle is “made from potato flour in the sense that one cannot say that it is not made from potato flour, and the proportion of potato flour is significant being over 40 percent.”
An appeals court reversed, in a convoluted opinion that considered four interpretations of the law before ultimately rejecting three of them. In the end, it decided that Pringles are exempt from the tax, mainly because they have less potato content than a potato chip.
The Supreme Court of Judicature reversed again, in an eloquent decision. Lord Justice Jacob, in an apparent swipe at the midlevel court, insisted the question was “not one calling for or justifying overelaborate, almost mind-numbing legal analysis.”
The VAT and Duties Tribunal took an eminently practical approach, he said. It considered Pringles’ appearance, taste, ingredients, process of manufacture, marketing and packaging, and concluded that “while in many respects” they “are different from potato crisps and so they are near the borderline, they are sufficiently similar to satisfy that test.”
The tribunal was not obliged, he said, “to go on and spell out item by item how each was weighed as if it were using a real scientist’s balance.” It came down to “a matter of overall impression.”
The Supreme Court of Judicature had little patience with Procter & Gamble’s lawyerly attempts to break out of the potato chip category. The company argued that to be “made of potato” Pringles would have to be all potato, or nearly so. If so, Lord Justice Jacob noted, “a marmalade made using both oranges and grapefruit would be made of neither — a nonsense conclusion.”
He was even more dismissive of Procter & Gamble’s argument that to be taxable a product must contain enough potato to have the quality of “potatoness.” This “Aristotelian question” of whether a product has the “essence of potato,” he insisted, simply cannot be answered.
In the Pringles litigation, three levels of British courts engaged in a classic debate over line-drawing, a staple of first-year law school classes. At some point, a potato-chip-like item is so different from a potato chip that it can no longer be called one — but when? Lord Justice Jacob invoked the wisdom of Justice Holmes: “A tyro thinks to puzzle you by asking you where you are going to draw the line and an advocate of more experience will show the arbitrariness of the line proposed by putting cases very near it on one side or the other.”
In other words, sometimes you just have to call them as you see them.
Conservatives like to insist that their judges are strict constructionists, giving the Constitution and statutes their precise meaning and no more, while judges like Ms. Sotomayor are activists. But there is no magic right way to interpret terms like “free speech” or “due process” — or potato chip. Nor is either ideological camp wholly strict or wholly activist. Liberal judges tend to be expansive about things like equal protection, while conservatives read more into ones like “the right to bear arms.”
In the end, as Lord Justice Jacob noted, a judge can only look at the relevant factors and draw an overall impression. His common-sense approach was a rebuke not only to Procter & Gamble, but to everyone out there who insists that the only way to read laws correctly is to read them strictly.

Adam Cohen, "Lord Justice Hath Ruled: Pringles Are Potato Chips ," New York Times, 31 May, 2009

A Wife of Noble Character

2009-06-01T09:57:00.010-05:00

I awoke this morning to no noise in the house. Noise is a strong word, what I mean is there was no sounds of clanking dishes or pots and pans. No smell of coffee, the normal things I associate with morning as my wife who most of the time rises before I sets about her day.
Instead as I looked outside I saw my wife working away on our yard. For days she has been working on the landscaping of our home. She says she loves it. I personally would rather hire someone else to do it and watch them earn their wages.
But my wife, every place we have been she digs, plants, waters, digs some more....
And she is never done. We have owned four different homes since we came back from the Philippines. Every place we have lived Michelle has set her heart on working on the yard and the gardens. Sometimes right up until we sold our our homes to move on. She has planted rose bushes, walking gardens, arbors graced with vines. She has pruned and trimmed black berry bushes, set beautiful fountains in our yards, bird feeders and walking paths. I admire her for her love of gardening and horticulture.
Proverbs 31 speaks of having a wife of noble character and some of the characteristics are in the area of horticulture.
Proverbs 31:10-12, 16, 17: Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life...16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
I married well! I am rich beyond my wildest dreams. (And by the way, she is one of the best cooks in the world to me!)
Thank you Michelle for your incredible nature and character. You make our home a palace and our yard an arboretum!

The "Hart" of a Missionary

2009-05-24T14:24:00.003-05:00

I had just received a prayer request from the Philippines regarding some friends who after 21 years of serving together as a team with the Higaonan are leaving the field. They are leaving to tend to personal matters. Their co-workers are sad to see them leave but know that this is something they need to do. The missionaries names are Bill and Carol Hart.

I remember when I first met this couple. They arrived in Durham Ontario Canada to begin missionary training in 1981 I believe. I remember seeing them walk into the camp, yes walk with their children and all their worldly possessions in backpacks. I remember them to seem to be different then most missionary candidates, they were certainly different from me.

I came to training to serve the calling I believe I had but deep down I found myself consumed with appearance, acceptance and wanting to succeed. The Harts' only concern was do to what they needed to so that they might be used of God in the foreign field.

When we were getting ready to go to the Philippines we met the Harts once more. I was Interim pastor of a local church near the training camp and they were finishing up their last term. They had not changed. Determined as ever they knew what God was calling them to do and kept at it, not worrying about appearance or people or anything else, except God!

Then it happened. They left the camp, went on to language school and ended up in the Philippines where we were serving. With the same dogged determination they were not content to stay on the main island of Luzon to serve, they chose one of the toughest areas of the ministry on the island of Mindanao. After studying the trade language of Mindanao they ended up joining a team in the Higaonan work. Quite isolated and primitive they worked along side the Ostmans, who were known by us for many years and the Jennings family from Australia. And there they served for more than 20 years. Low missionary support, working with two other families in the most primitive of situations they became admired by myself for their incredible love for Jesus as they served God with the Higaonan people.

Nothing deterred them from their mission. A near fatal snake bite to one of their children could have pulled them out and sent them home, but God's provision in helping and healing kept them there. Many children later, (I last counted eight, yes eight '8', I believe), they stayed and worked, they taught, they translated, they served. Lance Ostman says, "We say good bye to our co-workers today. We've been working together for 21 years. We will miss them terribly!"

In a world where most people cannot get along with family let alone coworkers and neighbors, these folk have stuck it out for over 20 years in one of the most difficult situations, under the harshest of conditions, held together by love, purpose and their God!

No news cameras, no c-span, no nightly news broadcast or fanfare from the upper eschelons of our society as they leave their 'home' and the people they love; just a sad good-bye from their friends and coworkers and a "Well done" from our Savior.

Thank you Bill and Carol and family for your commitment and service now and in the future where God leads you. Thank you for your example of Kingdom work at its best!

NO - Mr President...

2009-05-18T09:47:00.004-05:00

They say that all that is needed for evil to suceed is for good [people], to do nothing...
I have stood on the sidelines and prayed...
I have looked at those who protest both radically and silently at the issue of abortion...
I have studied and asked God what is the proper thing to do in this incredible issue that takes the lives of almost 1,000,000 babies still in the womb, every year...
I have talked to men and women of faith...
I have asked my older children, two who have given birth to their own children...
Yesterday my nine year old son asked me, "Dad, what is abortion?"...
When I gave him the answer I wept because having to define it for a child was all I needed to help me in a 30 year quest for an answer, my answer as a Christian, as a minister, as a father...
Pray, advocate for life, and when placed in front of you intervene....
Pray for those who either in a self centered way, through bad counsel, or who just in plain fear of an unwanted pregnancy, numb themselves to the impact of what seems to be a simple surgical procedure but in reality is a devastating life altering decision...
And never forget...never, ever, never, never, never, forget...
Abortion kills the only thing made in the image of God...
John Piper says it passionately this way in an excerpt from a sermon entitled: "The Baby in My Womb Leaped for Joy.":
"It's a magnificent thing: The only newly-originating life in the universe that comes in the image of God is Man. The only newly-originating life in the universe that lasts forever is Man.
This is an awesome thing.
And, as everyone knows, that reverence is not shared by our new President, over whom we have rejoiced.
He is trapped and blind in a culture of deceit. On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, he released this statement,
We are reminded that this decision not only protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters.
To which I say:
No, Mr. President, you are not protecting women; you are authorizing the destruction of 500,000 little women every year.
No, Mr. President, you are not protecting reproductive freedom; you are authorizing the destruction of freedom for one million little human beings every year.
No, Mr. President, killing our children is killing our children no matter how many times you call it a private family matter. You may say it is a private family matter over and over and over, and still they are dead. And we killed them. And you, would have it remain legal.
Mr. President, some of us wept for joy at your inauguration. And we pledge that we will pray for you.
We have hope in our sovereign God."
We are told we must dial down the rhetoric...
When the children of Israel got tired of the rhetoric they told Isaiah the prophet: "Shut up! We don't want any more of your reports." They say, "Don't tell us the truth. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies." (Isaiah 30:10 New Living Translation 2006)
What can we do? What will we do? How will you make your faith productive as you conform more and more in the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Piper, John. From the sermon, "The Baby in My Womb Leaped for Joy". Accessed May 18, 2009. http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1794_no_mr_president_killing_is_killing_no_matter_what_we_call_it/

Leaving the donut on the desk...

2009-04-20T10:38:00.003-05:00

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major. Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor’s class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. How many push-ups can you do? Steve said I do about 200 every night. 200? That’s pretty good, Steve, Dr. Christianson said. Do you think you could do 300? Steve replied, I don’t know.... I’ve never done 300 at a time. Do you think you could? Again asked Dr. Christianson. Well, I can try, said Steve. Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I needyou to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it, said the professor. Steve said, well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it.. Dr. Christianson said, good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren’t the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson’s class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts? Cynthia said, yes. Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut? Sure! Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia’s desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, Joe, do you want a donut? Joe said, yes. Dr. Christianson asked, Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut? Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When the professor asked, Scott do you want a donut? Scotts reply was, well, can I do my own push-ups? Dr. Christianson said, No, Steve has to do them. Then Scott said, Well, I don’t want one then. Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn’t want? With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups. Scott said, HEY! I said I didn’t want one! Dr. Christianson said, Look! This is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it. And he put a donut on Scott’s desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow..

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, Jenny, do you want a donut? Sternly, Jenny said, no. Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn’t want? Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, No! And there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn’t bear to watch all of Steve’s work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set. Steve asked Dr. Christianson, Do I have to make my nose touch on each one? Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, well, they’re your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want. And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, NO! Don’t come in! Stay out! Jason didn’t know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, No, let him come. Professor Christianson said, you realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him? Steve said, yes, let him come in. Give him a donut. Dr. Christianson said, Okay, Steve, I’ll let you get Jason’s out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut? Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. Yes, he said, give me a donut. Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut? Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve’s arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, Linda, do you want a donut? Linda said, very sadly, No, thank you. Professor Christianson quietly asked, Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want? Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda. Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. Susan, do you want a donut? Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. Dr.Christianson, why can’t I help him? Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.

Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut? As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, and so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten. Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

Well done, good and faithful servant, said the professor, adding, Not all sermons are preached in words. Turning to his class, the professor said, my wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever.

Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid. Wouldn’t we be foolish to leave it lying on the desk?

Man looks on the outward appearance but God.....

2009-04-14T09:55:00.003-05:00

I am amazed to this day how I can be so cynical. A person who is supposed to be compassionate, a shepherd of people who can be so biased by appearance.

A friend posted a video from "Britain's Got Talent". It is the video of a 47 year old woman from an obscure village in England, who seems a bit cheeky, (for non-Brits: cheeky: adj risqué; just short of rude. You’re being cheeky if you make a joke that you can only just barely get away with without getting into trouble.), and the eyes of the judges were rolling as if they were sure they would buzz the woman down when the first note hit their ears.

What happened was incredible. Singing I Had a Dream, from Les Miserables a song in itself about courage in the face of disaster and the hopes for something better, she sang it beautifully. Everyone who was givng her cat calls from the audience and even the judges were on their feet applauding her before she was even through.

The most critical of the judges said, "It was the most surprised he had been in all his years of judging the show".

How often do I judge people from their appearance? Me who has served the homeless, the downtrodden, I have been guilty of seeking some outward sign of beauty, of worth of someone and man...God knows how to give us a good spanking when we do.

The Pharisees of Jesus day were admonshied for being white washed graves. Cleaning the outside when inside there was filth and decay...Washing the outside of a cup but leaving the inside of the cup, the most important place, dirty.

Do not judge outward appearances. Fine clothing and good looks are good places for the sad and the hurt and the champions and the heroes well they are busy making sure their insides are well taken care of so do not mind the outside....

Susan Boyle, thank you for the wonderful reminder and Jon for sending me the video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

About my grandson Charles Truitt Martin IV, (C4)…

2009-04-05T13:46:00.002-05:00

Most of you who have been following my “Mike is…” on Facebook know the challenges concerning our newest grandchild, Charles or C4 as the two grandpas call him, over the past few days.

Before Charles was born, they discovered what they thought were cysts or tumors in him. There was really nothing they could do until he was born so we waited. Born premature his weight was good, over 6 lbs…not bad for a preemie, but still a preemie he was.
I remember holding him when I visited a couple weeks after his birth. He was so small, (Photo above….)

He had some challenges, with eating when it was discovered he was tongue tied...needed to have the skin under his tongue snipped a bit to free up the tongue to help eat, swallow and breathe better.

It was decided that he needed to get an MRI for the cysts. Concerned but not overly the doctors thought it best to get the MRI sooner rather than later.
The date was set, (this past Friday, April 3), and if you followed my texting in Facebook you saw the challenges he went through. Stopped breathing needed to be intubated; put on a respirator, then started breathing again.

Good News and Concerning news:
Good news was there were no signs whatsoever of any cists from the MRI! The doctors cannot explain what they saw earlier through other imaging but know there was something there but no longer present...one doctor said it was like a miracle…

Concerning news is through the procedure they discovered this breathing problem C4 has. His breathing stopped but they think he has been having this happen a lot and no one noticed. It was the procedure to try and see the now non-existent cysts that helped them recognize the problem and they are going to set up a schedule to try and treat him for this. He has developed a cold and that compounds the breathing…

I am very happy to have so many concerned family members and friends who prayed, took the time to read the journaling, even this blog to be a part of this healing process for C4. Thanks!
The truth of the matter is this, something Michelle and I learned long ago when our oldest kids were babies, God loves them more than we could ever love them. We are custodians of the lives of our kids and we need to guard, protect, love and care for them with everything we got…

Psalm 127:3: Behold, children are a gift of the LORD...

What Did Jesus Say About Himself...?

2009-03-23T11:06:00.004-05:00

When you talk about yourself to others, how do you describe yourself? By your name and physical features? By your work, or what you do or have accomplished? By your hopes, your dreams, (your nightmares...)? By your friends, your acquaintances...?

This week in the Real Jesus we will be talking about how Jesus described Himself. When he talked about himself who did He say He was and why is it important for us to listen and learn from the things He said?

The Real Jesus

2009-03-20T07:48:00.005-05:00

Those who met him wondered who he was...
Those who followed him showed doubt, confusion and fear...
The government and religious leaders of his day were angry and ignorant as they asked this man "Who are you?"
…….Two centuries later doubt, confusion, fear, anger and ignorance still stirs people's hearts and the question remains: "Who is Jesus?"

One of my favorite Christian groups, Downhere has a song called Real Jesus:

Jesus on the radio, Jesus on a late night show, Jesus in a dream, looking all serene

Jesus on a steeple, Jesus in the Gallup poll, Jesus has His very own brand of rock and roll

Watched Him on the silver screen, Bought the action figurine

But Jesus is the only name that makes you flinch

Jesus started something new, Jesus coined a phrase or two, Jesus split the line at the turning point of time.

Jesus sparked a controversy, Jesus, known for His mercy, gave a man his sight, Jesus isn't white

Jesus loves the children, holds the lambs, Jesus prays a lot, Jesus has distinguishing marks on His hands.

The chorus cries out:

Oh, can anybody show me the real Jesus?
Oh, let Your love unveil the mystery of the real Jesus

Religion, church, denominational influence..all have filtered Jesus for me over the years. My goal over the next few weeks with our church is to discover the Real Jesus...What did the people of His time think of Him? What did Jesus have to say about who He was Himself? What do we do with the doubt we face in our search for the Real Jesus? His dying words speak volumes of His character and how about the times when we miss the Real Jesus altogether?

There is a story about a 1st grade Sunday school class where a little girl was not paying attention to the teacher but instead was scribbling away on a piece of paper...the teacher saw the little girl drawing something and asked her: What are you drawing?" The little girl responded, "I am drawing a picture of God." The teacher chuckled and said: "But no one knows what God looks like." The little girl looked up with enthusiasm and said: "They will when I am done!"

What is the picture in your head when you think of Jesus? This Easter let's attempt the discovery of a lifetime...The Real Jesus!

Parable of the Mousetrap

2009-03-18T09:09:00.004-05:00

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. What food might this contain?' The mouse wondered . He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning: There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!'

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, 'Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.'

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, 'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!' The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.'

The mouse turned to the cow and said 'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!' The cow said, 'Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose.'

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap...alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail was caught by the trap. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness. So what does this mean to us this modern day parable...when we hear that someone is facing a problem, some trouble and think it doesn't concern us, remember ----when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We can all help to make a difference in someone's life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

(Parable by Ebrahim Rashid)

Easter Schedule for First Christian Church, Waynoka

2009-03-17T19:14:00.003-05:00

Easter Season

March 22, 10:30 am "Who Do People Say I Am?"

March 29, 10:30 am "Jesus Said 'I Am'..."

April 5, 10:30 am "When Doubt Creeps In"

Maundy Thursday, April 9, Mel Gibson's "The Passion" (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian)

Good Friday, April 10, 7:00 pm "A Dying Man's Last Words"

Easter Sunday, April 12, 10:30 am "Do We Know the Real Jesus?"

I am getting old, worn out and breaking down...

2009-03-13T11:52:00.002-05:00

It was at a conference in the Philippines when I started to notice it happening. I was attending a missionary conference for missionaries with New Tribes Mission. I was 33 years old. All the men and some very courageous women decided one afternoon to play a pick up game of touch football, (touch is a very loose word since it was the hardest touches I ever felt).

I was running out for a pass and it landed in my arms, the perfect spiral landing into my arms like a cradled infant in the arms of his daddy. In those days I was a lot more fit then I am now. I could run without getting winded and actually jogged regularly. All of a sudden...BOOM, a young lady gave me one of those "touches" that sent me sailing tumbling rolling over and over till my left knee twisted under me and flinched with pain, (actually those present would say I screamed like a little girl). I never got over that injury and till this day it hurts me whenever I overdue it.

Fast forward to age 45. Never wore glasses until then and only then did I buy those cheap reading glasses from the drug store to see small print...today 8 years later strong tri-focals and cannot get along without them.

I have this pain in my heel called plantar fasciitis...it is the onset of what is called a heel spur. Though it can effect anyone at any age it is predominantly an old persons problem.

Lastly a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes after a lifetime of over indulgence of chocolate, soft drinks, heavy carbohydrates, and other misc. sugars...with limited and no exercise, (after all I did have a knee injury right...NOT an excuse...).

I am breaking down and cannot find the warranty on this body. Things do not work like they used to. I can't do the things I did when I was young..younger....

Funny thing is I feel young and vibrant, alive but as one of my favorite movie quotes go: "My mind is writing checks my body can't cash!" I love gym night at the Life Center and love to play hoops with the young people but I end up sore, winded and limping away after only a short time, (it is embarrassing to have a young 14 year old girl help you to the bench...)

So where is all this whining going? We age and begin to feel our age. We lose track of time on our lives, our bodies, our health. Eventually we start to think old too. We start talking like our parents did about the youth and "the good old days..." I love the quote from Dr. Seuss that says: "“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” Mark Twain said: "Youth is wasted on the young"

Robin Williams in Dead Poets says: "Seize the day". And yet another movie quote from The Field of Dreams: "We just don't recognize the most significant moments of our lives while they're happening. We think, 'There'll be other days'. What we do not realise is that's the only day.."

That is what it means in two passages from the Bible when it says in Ecclesiastes, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.." And in Ephesians when Paul says "Redeem the time..." Taking each moment as special, (even the broken down body days). Investing in the time for God, others and ourselves...

Hey, I can walk, have good health, (for a man my age). It is never too late to seize the day, the opportunity, that moment God wants for us and to be used by Him for His glory. Look at every moment as a time not too waste but invest...Love God Passionately and Serve others with sacrificial service!

Happy Belated Birthday Dr. Seuss

2009-03-03T08:43:00.003-06:00

If he were alive it would 105 the years he worked and cooked and ate and slept and wrote...why didn't he ever write about a boat?

His humor and rhyme and imagination made me smile why didn't he write about a railroad station?

Some of his books, on my shelf all worn and read were read upon my bed, in my office in my head...He wrote and he wrote and he wrote almost without thinking on page after page he would continue his inking spreading words all old and lots that were new, yes he did didn't he write about a gnu? Some books were happy some had some sad but never were any of his books written in sad. Because the language of sad is so easy to write he had to write something hard and make it just right! He told us to reach for the things not too high, when I thought he'd be here forever he said good bye.

Some of my favorites you make ask and I'll tell the words that he wrote and I know them so well:

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind."

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not!"

"I'm afraid sometimes you'll play lonely games too, games you can't win because you'll play against you!"

“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”

"So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads. "

So Belated Birthday greetings Theodor Seuss Geisel, (I like Dr. Seuss its easier to speak), I love to read you any old week. You brought many a cheer and many a cry, so I'll say see you later instead of good bye. Cause I know there will be a time when I sit and show childlike anger a tizzy a fit. I'll sit and I'll stew, I will stew and I'll stew, and then something will happen I'll think about you. I'll pick up a book, a story, or rhyme and realize you here all the time. To remind me that days are filled with the dare to love, to be kind, to laugh and to care.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. "

Albert Haynesworth, NFL's first $100 million defensive player

2009-02-27T15:35:00.004-06:00

Say what? Let's see how many zeros is that?
00000000...with a one on the front of that many zeros...one hundred million dollars over 7 years.

Divide that by 7 years and that is approximately 14.285 million a year, well a season, not a full year...

7 years times 16 games, (not including preseason and play-offs): $892,857.14 per game...

And like AFLAC, if he is hurt and can't work...errr...play: guaranteed $42 million....

With an additional option signing bonus of 15 million...hmmm

That's a lot of money....I mean that is A LOT OF MONEY!!!!

How much money can anyone person have, spend, save, use...

Sorry...it befuddles the mind...yes sorry again, I am dumbfounded...

A game I love to watch and used to play...one hundred million dollars?

I will close these very random ramblings for now and think a bit on this....

Did I mention ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS?

Trains, planes and automobiles...

2009-02-26T08:50:00.003-06:00

Here in Waynoka, we have a main line of the railroad system run right through town. You can hear the train whistle blowing from most anywhere. Hearing the train today made me think...

Growing up on Emporium Avenue, West Seneca, NY, (a suburb of Buffalo, NY), I remember many nights laying in my bed which was next to a window facing some railroad tracks and the NY State Thruway, (I-90) for non-NY residents).

Growing up poor and not being too far from home for most of my growing up...I dreamed of days of travel. I would lay awake at night and count train cars and automobiles thinking to myself: "Where are they going...who are these people...what would it be like to travel, far and wide and see different things and meet different people?" I would lay there wishing that I would be able to travel one day to far away places...As a family we never went anywhere, I did not see Niagara Falls till I graduated from high school, thank you Marcia Giambrone, (Niagara Falls was less than 20 miles away from my house).

Here I sit at 53 thinking of all the places I have visited and all the places I have lived. 38 different states, almost 100 different cities, different countries, England, Canada, Philippines, Korea, Japan, even Cuba. I have been in 68 different airports around the world, some more than once, we as a family have been involved in incredible ministries having moved 24 times in 30 years of marriage, (some across town, others across continents even around the world).

I guess I am writing to say thank you Lord! A little boy lying in bed dreaming of great opportunities and I have had them. Oh I know it might not be over and that roots might not grow as deep as I want them to right now, but I am blessed to say that I feel like I have had a ride of my life....

What are your dreams and wishes? Did you lay awake at night and ask God to fulfill them? To use you in the midst of your desires to make your desires become a part of the plan God has for your life and the lives you interact with?

There goes another train whistle...I wonder where that train is going?

The closest Starbucks is 75 miles away...

2009-02-25T14:34:00.002-06:00

I estimate that having the closest Starbucks 75 miles away from me has saved me about $400+ over the past 9 months, (before that though a dear friend was recharging my Starbucks card for some of that time..) WOW! The things we do and where we spend our money...
What do you spend your money on? What is it that makes you crack open your wallet and pull out a few bills? Comfort, pleasure, ease, enjoyment, entertainment, fun, excitement...?
Listening to a friend's sermon on Mercy on my iPod made me think about what we do and how we spend our money.
There are 2.8 billion people that live on less than $2 a day.
Jesus said it well, "Where your treausre is that is where your heart will be also..."
I am happy that I have been able to with little whining or complaining give up my Starbucks fix. I have been able to focus on more important things with money, like others and ministry...
May God help us all to discover the wise way to use what He so generously gives us!

Think about what it takes for you to worship today...

2009-02-08T07:55:00.003-06:00

Random questions for us to consider as we hustle and bustle and rush off to church for you to worship today:

Who unlocked the doors, turned on the lights, made sure the church was heated, (or cooled) enough and gave the church a once over before you got to church for you to worship today?

Who makes sure the church is clean for you to worship today?

Who does your bulletin so that you can be informed and know what is happening at church for you as you worship today?

Who made sure all the audio/visual things were ready to go for you as you worship today?

If any of these and so many things were missing for you...could you really worship today?

Be thankful, be supportive, be involved in making sure that others like you CAN worship today!

Making the Most of Every Day!

2009-02-04T13:54:00.004-06:00

Do you ever find yourself wondering where one day went or several? How fast time flies in the face of our business, our stuff? How preoccupied we can get with the things that matter little to anyone but us and miss the big picture stuff, the things that should matter most to us and others?

Psalm 90:12 says - So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

There is wisdom to be found in the breadth of a day. "To number our days" means to make every day count, to see each day as a gift, a treasure to be cherished and to share. We never know how many days we have on earth. We never know what a day brings and the opportunities the day affords us.

It takes wisdom to know the important things in life. It takes courage to set aside ourselves and our agendas, our egos, our pride, our little world, to envision the vista of the big world around us and how God can give us something truly breathtaking, using us in such a way that we could never have even dreamed of, or planned it, created it, even accomplished it!

I came across an inspiring, 5 hankie video called 99 days that shows how one family in the midst of struggle and a frail and disabled baby face 99 days with courage and insight into the how and why of life. It shows that even a baby helpless except for the loving parents and friends to care for him, how his life has impacted and inspired so many people...

Not my will but thy will be done....

All By Myself...Shouting and Screaming Like a Madman

2009-02-02T07:48:00.002-06:00

If you haven't guessed by now, the madman is me. Home alone not feeling well watching the Superbowl, I thought I was going to bust an artery.

One of the best Super Bowls ever, it had everything from great athletic performances, controversial calls and turn overs...I could not stay in my seat. (My humblest apologies to non-pro football fans)

I am one who loves the underdog and though I thought Pittsburgh was going to win, I secretly wanted the Cardinals to overcome. Before the Cardinals threw out the red cloth to challenge the first score by Pittsburgh, I was on my feet yelling at my television, "Throw the flag , challenge the call, his knee was down..." (As if they could hear me), but lo and behold, just before they kicked the extra point the whistle blew, play was stopped and the camera focused on the little red cloth thrown by the coach indicating his desire to challenge the premise that the touchdown did or did not actually take place. I was up out of my seat yelling and cheering, knowing that the outcome would mean the difference of 4 points.

And the rest of the game was just like that till the last 35 seconds. Play after play. Penalty after penalty. In my following NFL football for almost 45 years, I have not seen a game so filled with such action and game changing events. It took me about an hour to settle down and relax enough to go to bed.

They say there is no greater frustration than an atheist who when overcome with such and ecstatic sense of thankfulness stands there with no one to thank. I thought about how many times when God in His incredible ways and actions in and around my life performs such unbelievable things and not ackowledge such wonderfullness. What does it take to lift me out of my seat and yell and scream like a madman to give honor and praise to the Lord.

I love the passage in 2 Samuel when after trials and hardships King David finally brings home the ark of the covenant, the symbol that represents the very presence of God. David so happy so overwhelmed with joy, he strips down to his underwear and the Bible says:

“And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.” 2 Samuel 6:14

Wow! The king of a mighty nation humbling himself to give honor, praise, and worship to God. The mighty warrior king David whose battles against great and powerful nations was legend, honored God...like a crazy madman...

Now I need to say right away that I do not advocate all of us doing this in church next Sunday! What I am advocating is an incredible sense of happiness, joy expressing our spirituality in such a way that honors God as if it was the greatest sporting event ever! That we get up out of our seats and yell with all our might for the graciousness, the goodness, the great mercy, love and hope given to us by our God!

It could be life changing, in fact I know IT WOULD!

Mysterious Phone Call

2009-01-30T09:26:00.003-06:00

I received a very interesting phone call from a beautiful young lady the other night. At first there was silence. I could hear someone in the background but not sure who was on the line. The caller ID on my cell said it was my daughter Rachel, but I did not hear anyone. When I was about to hang up thinking that maybe a redial button was pushed by accident, (ever get one of those calls or worse, make one of those calls and have people listen in...), I heard a faint "gumpa". This was followed by background noise saying yes its grandpa say hi grandpa. Then there were more gumpa gumpa gumpa.
It was the first time I heard our granddaughter call out my name. I got emotional. Hannah was calling to me and then started a gibberish conversation which ended with her accidentally hanging up the phone. I was told later that she just kept walking around with the cell phone talking her baby talk and every once in a while saying gumpa.
Made me think about times I call on God. No I am not comparing my self to God, (Grandfathers can be amazing people but Messiah complexes...no). I am thinking of how I pray and what I ask for. The joy I get from hearing the gibberish ramblings of my granddaughter with the occasional name recognition, "gumpa", how God must feel when His children call out His name and then ramble excessively about things that matter most to them. I had great delight hearing her voice though her words were indistinguishable, yet joy just the same.
When is the last time you picked up your spiritual phone and called our heavenly "gumpa"? The Bible says that God delights with us singing over us songs of joy...(Zephaniah 3:17).
Stir God's heart with joy and listen as He sings songs of love to you today, call Him and He will answer, and most of all He will be happy!
Psalm 4:1 - Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

Positive Attitude

2009-01-21T11:00:00.003-06:00

I have a dear friend Ed Wright of San Jose California, a volunteer at CityTeam Ministries, (on the left in the glasses receiving the 2006 49ers QB Community award). Ed is one of the most positive friends I have. Ed who suffers from cerebral palsy, has been a volunteer at CityTeam for 25 years. He is responsible for the correspondence and communication with donors, responding to general public inquiries about the facility, organization of donor records and even leads staff devotional/chapel meetings. I worked with him for many years and he has inspired me and motivated me beyond words!

Ed sent me the following story which inspired me today and hope it inspires you too!

"John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, 'If I were any better, I would be twins!'
He was a natural motivator.
If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, 'I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time How do you do it?' He replied, 'Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood
I choose to be in a good mood.' Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.
Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.
'Yeah, right, it's not that easy,' I protested.
'Yes, it is,' he said. 'Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.
You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life.'
I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.
After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.
I saw him about six months after the accident.
When I asked him how he was, he replied, 'If I were any better, I'd be twins..Wanna see my scars?'
I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.
'The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,' he replied. 'Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live.'
'Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?' I asked
He continued, '...the paramedics were great.
They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared.. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action.'
'What did you do?' I asked.
'Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,' said John. 'She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity''
Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'
He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.
Attitude, after all, is everything .
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.' Matthew 6:34.
After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday."

I can dress myself...

2008-12-02T09:33:00.004-06:00

Our grandaughter, Hannah was trying to dress herself. What ends up happening is 3 -4 pictures of her trying to put on her top. You can see this for yourself and smile:(http://martinmemoriesfromthenorthwest.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-can-dress-myself.html)

What is interesting is that all the while she thinks she can do it and keeps failing, her daddy is right there telling her he can help but no she wants to do it all herself. In the end she must let daddy do it but as you can see from the frown on her face above as Hannah's Daddy says: "Hannah is Miss Independent! She likes to do everything herself. She has perfected the pouty face to try and get her way."

Isn't that just like you and me? We want to do things on our own to experience the feeling and the emotional attachment that comes along with accomplishing something all on our by ourselves with nobody's help.

The truth of the matter is that we cannot in most cases when it comes to the spiritual dimensions of our life, accomplish it on our own. The Lord is the one who perfects, completes and does what He needs for the Kingdom using us in the process!

Philippians 2:13 says this - for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

And the promise made earlier in Philippians is clear will od do what He says?

Philippians 1:6 says - And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

Hey need help with something that you are trying to struggle doing all by yourself? Remember Hannah and try not to pout when God wants to help, rather joyously accept the gift of God's grace in your life to fulfill all things pertaining to life and living!

The 'Most' (Czech for Bridge)

2008-11-22T10:09:00.006-06:00

A video is out making its way through the internet. It is actualy a short film that has won many awards.

I first heard it as a sermon illustration of Christ and what he had done for us and how some people go through life not knowing what was done. Here is the story:

There once was this turntable bridge which spanned a large river. During most of the day, the bridge sat parallel with the river, allowing ships to pass freely on both sides. But at certain times each day a train would come along and the bridge would be turned across the river allowing the trains to cross.

A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as the train crossed.

One evening, as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day to come, he looked off into the distance through the dimming twilight and caught sight of the train's light. He stepped to the controls and waited until the train was within a prescribed distance when he was to turn the bridge into position. He turned the bridge, but to his horror, found that the locking control didn't work. If the bridge was not locked into position securely, it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the train comes onto it. This would cause the train to jump the track and go crashing into the river. This train was a passenger train with many people aboard.

He left the bridge turned across the river, and hurried across the bridge to the other side of the river where there was a lever he could use to operate the lock manually.

He could hear the rumble of the train now. He took hold of the lever and leaned backward to apply pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives depended on this man's strength. Then, coming across from the direction of his control shack he heard a sound that make his blood run cold: "Daddy, where are you?" His four-year-old son was crossing the bridge to look for him.
His first impulse was to cry out to the child, "Run, run!" but the train was too close, the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time. The man almost lifted the lever to run and snatch up his son, and carry him to safety, but he realized he could not get back to the lever in time. Either the people on the train or his little son must die. He took just a moment to make his decision. The train sped swiftly and safely on it's way, and no one aboard was aware of the tiny, broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the rushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of a sobbing man still clinging tightly to the lever long after the train had passed.

They didn't see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked, to tell his wife how he had sacrificed her son.

Now if you can comprehend the feelings, which went through this man's heart, you can understand the feeling of our Heavenly Father when he sacrificed His Son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life. How does He feel when we speed along through life without giving a thought to what was done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ? Can there be any wonder that He caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His only Son died?

It was the sermon and illustration that first caused me to think about ministry as a life vocation and calling. May it be a gentle reminder to all of us today of the gift of Life from our Savior Jesus Christ!

Wide right...

2008-11-18T10:00:00.002-06:00

It is a term so familiar to the Buffalo Bills, especially to one Bill in particular, Scott Norwood. Super Bowl XXV matched up the NFC champion New York Giants and the AFC champion Buffalo Bills for the game some call the ultimate game. A low scoring game with a lot of good defense, The Bills were favored to win and played their hearts out.
It came down to the last three seconds. The Giants were ahead 20 - 19. Scott Norwood, the place kicker for the Bills, was about to attempt 47 yard field goal that would win the game. The snap was good the kick was clean it had enough distance, but it went wide right. Game over, Giants win Super Bowl XXV.
It was a tough game. To say that Scott Norwood lost the game for the Bills would not be a correct assumption. Whenever you have to rely on any one person's last ditch effort to pull off a victory tells me that the rest of the team helped in the loss.
The Bills were favored to win and were very impressive. If the Bills won it, the MVP would have been hard to pick from many impressive performances.
The Bills had many many GREAT and talented players who helped take them to three more consecutive Super Bowls. But it was not enough.
Life is like that. Tough going and when we fall or fail so easy to look for blame even one person for our woes in life. Reality is life is more than one field goal. Life is moment by moment opportunities where we do our best and by faith believe God for our victory.
Even then when we by faith are trusting God for all things and faithful to all things, we can come up short, even fail...talent and great performance is not always enough. We can all get down the end zone and come up wide right.
No one, not a single person on the team or in the city of Buffalo blamed Scott Norwood for that loss. Blame is detrimental to getting up and going at it once again and again. Stuff happens and our winning is based on our response and our attitude to the loss and losses of life.
Why this blog? Last night on Monday night football, the Buffalo Bills played the Cleveland Browns. The Bills were down by two points with less than a minute in the game. The place kicker, Rian Lindell, came on the field had had to kick a 51 yard field goal to win the game. The sports casters were reminiscing about Scott Norwood's wide right when the ball was snapped, placed on the turf, Rian kicked and with enough distance, went wide right....Rian did not lose the game...the clock ran out and there was no more time to try and win....
Do not wait till the last minute to salvage your game...your life...time just might run out before you get that chance...

Stump Grinder

2008-11-13T10:06:00.003-06:00

Last week I talked about the disposal of tree stumps and the painstaking effort to get rid of them. One of our members told me about a stump grinder. This is a machine which is attached to the rear of a tractor's drive shaft. It consists of a large metal wheel with sharpened carbon tips attached to the wheel. As the drive shaft is engaged and spins, the stump grinder spins at a high rate of speed. You move the grinder to the edge of the stump and lower the spinning grinding wheel on to the stump just a and it then moving in one direction slides across the stump eating and chipping away at it a little at a time. One stump we were grinding was about 24" in diameter and within ten minutes the stump was ground down below the dirt line with nothing but mulch and chips left behind.

Just like the time it took us days to get rid of the stump we did by hand, the stump grinder has its own purpose to in ridding the earth of the stump.

An old elephant joke goes: "How do you eat an elephant?" "One bite at a time"

So too with the stump grinder, inch by inch it ate away at the unwanted stump. minute by minute we could see the destruction of the stump and at the end, no more stump.

In our lives we either ignore problems or we hide them, we can decorate them up so they do not look so bad, we can try and make them look not as dangerous as they might be but in the end, the stumps of our lives are still there. We can chop away at them and do everything we can to rid ourselves of these stumps that so easily hinders our spiritual lives, but sometimes it takes a stump grinder. Slowly, methodically, eating away at the stump till the stump is gone.

Hebrews 12:1 says "...we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us." So my question is this, are we getting rid of those annoying stumps that block our path from full fellowship with God, the sin that distracts us from better things and best things, the love of our Father God....?

Psalm 66:18 - "If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;"

They served their country...

2008-11-11T10:09:00.002-06:00

Today is Veteran's Day. A time to remember those in the military who have served our country. Some having paid the ultimate sacrifice.

These men and women serve obeying orders carrying out their mission, they do this for all of us. To serve their country, to protect the rights and freedoms of their country and its citizens...let us pause and remember these fine men and women and give them our respect and our prayers!

Just a good ol' conversation

2008-11-07T09:14:00.002-06:00

Yesterday while posting signs for the opening of our Life Center tomorrow, I was chatting with a local businessperson. The conversation ranged from the Life Center to their business, the local Chamber of Commerce when all of a sudden I received a text message from one of our youth. Laughing I put it away to answer later.
We then began to talk about the world of technology. Computers, PDA's, text messaging, and blogging...communication devices we use to connect and network and yet...
What happened to the good ol' conversation? Talking face to face, even voice to voice, it seems that texting is preferable to a phone conversation.
Is it because we can use the technology to communicate without really communicating? What? Yes communicating without really communicating.
Sure there will be those who argue with me that texting, emailing, blogging, etc...is communicating, but does it communicate our real feelings, our emotional environment, does it tell people about my soul and its condition?
Face to face we can see the condition of the life we are communicating with. We can hide it with a clever facade. We can disguise the pain with embarrassing laughter and a smile. But spending real time with real people helps us connect, network in a way we might not be able to electronically.
I blog, I text, I email, but I find the most pleasure in my life in the pleasant conversations I have. Hearing the voice and seeing the face, the eyes, the body language of the person I am connecting with and WOW it speaks volumes to me.
Ending our conversation yesterday I said "...thanks, I think I know what I want to blog about tomorrow."
John 14:9 - Jesus replied, "I have been with all of you for a long time. Don't you know me yet, Philip?
Three years of face to face with Jesus and this is the outcome...how much more should we consider face to face opportunities and set the electronic devices aside just for a while?

Out with the trash

2008-11-06T08:10:00.003-06:00

Today in Waynoka is trash day. The trash collector comes going house to house, business to business with his with his loud truck with a very large claw that grabs the blue containers and lifts it up dumping the contents into his huge compactor. Every Thursday this happens. I am sure it happens at your house too. According to the Annenberg Foundation, the average American generates four pounds of solid trash per day, for a grand total of 1,460 pounds per year. Americans are the number one global trash offenders. Every day, we dispose of approximately 200 million tons of the stuff. Less than one-quarter of it is recycled, leaving the rest for land fills and incinerators.

The amount is staggering and could be the topic of another blog, but my thought today was, what do we consider worthy of garbage. How do we place a value on something calling it worthy of our disposal?

I hear the garbage truck in the distance and it is going about its chores for us, a service, though we pay for it with our taxes or monthly fees and yet I am overwhelmed by the staggering trash of humanity we throw away by not wanting it or valuing it or even bothering to think about it.
Dysfunctional troubled kids, addicts and junkies, the homeless and destitute, the aged and the infirmed, the disabled? The people around us...how long do we value them and when do they stop having worth in our eyes so that we mentally throw them out like the trash we throw away everyday?

When do we give up on them? How long can we sustain a value system of love for them, some very unlovable and some who sometimes seem like they do not want to be loved at all?

1 John 3:17, 18 - But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help--how can God's love be in that person? Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions.
It does not say give money or things, The Bible is calling us to 'action'

What we might not hold dear or place any value on God places the highest value:
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

We should celebrate the value God places on us and on all humanity:
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God

The Touch of the Masters Hand

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin,but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,"Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!" "Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars twice; going for three.."

But no, from the room, far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: "The touch of a master's hand."And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin, A"mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. "He is going" once, and "going twice, He's going and almost gone." But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.

Myra 'Brooks' Welch

New Potus

2008-11-05T08:55:00.002-06:00

It looked like New Year’s Eve. Thousands on the television cheering the outcome of our elections. The overwhelming decision of the people to elect Barack Hussein Obama as our 44th POTUS, (President of the United States).

What does the future hold? I know that my theology tells me that to love God and to Love people is our highest commandment. I also know that we are told to pray for our leaders, installed by God for good not evil.

Lastly I know this. Nothing is gonna get better before it gets worse. Everything hinges not on POTUS, not even on America, but on our Savior Jesus Christ. His imminent return, His Kingdom restored and eternity in heaven with Him, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit.

Pray for our new POTUS. Pray for all the elected officials everywhere.

1 Timothy 2:1, 2 – I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Romans 13:1-7 says: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Stubborn Stump

2008-11-04T11:44:00.004-06:00

Over 25 years ago, (27 to be exact), Michelle and I were in missionary training. Part of the training was during the afternoons we had what was called work detail. This was jobs needed around the campus that everyone worked on to keep maintenance costs down, but also to teach us to work in teams, think about projects etc...

The spring of 1981 saw one of my work details trying to get a huge, I mean huge stump out of the ground. It entailed shovels, picks, axes and a lot of sweat. Day after day we dug, picked axed our way down. This stump was huge, (did I mention how big this stump was?).

Finally after inspecting it all and seeing that we had dug through and cut through every root there was on that thing, a huge back hoe came in to tear it from its resting place. A chain was securely wrapped around it and the back hoe hoisted away only to be met with resistance and difficulty. Finally with one big heave the chain snapped with big thick links flying all over.

As we surveyed it was agreed that we had to dig under the stump to eat away at the tap root. I said what? It was then that the country boys who were working on this told the city boys, (only me really), what a tap root was. After all our hard work, after every seeming root was cut and broken and the stump was ready to be removed...there was another root dead center going down some said probably 6 - 10 feet or so judging from the size of the stump.

Made me think...

There are times in our lives where after many years of misbehavior, Wrong choices and actions and sin that we try to repent and relieve ourselves of the problem. We are forgiven, but we still find that there is something that is keeping us pinned in our same predicament, returning to the same issues and we cannot resolve them. Perhaps it is like that stump. All the roots we could see are dealt with but there is that incessant tap root holding tight not letting go.

We need to cut the tap roots of misbehavior, wrong choices and actions and sin. We need to thoroughly 'repent' of these actions and on a daily basis, repent, confess and turn completely away from those things keeping us from extreme fellowship with the Father.

Matthew 18:9, 18 says:

"If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell...If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire."

Better to be disabled than to be disavowed, cast away from God because of the 'tap roots' in our lives we cling to so readily.

Hebrews 12:1 says it best in the spiritual race we are all involved in:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Amen!

Rubiks Cube Wonder

2008-10-31T09:05:00.003-05:00

A couple of years back the Rubik’s Cube celebrated 25 years. Lots of people have bought and tried to figure out the cube. For those who might know what the Rubik's Cube is or have through frustration in trying to figure out the puzzle subconsciously erased that memory from the brain, let me explain. According to Wikipedia: "The Rubik's Cube is a mechanical puzzle invented in 1974[1] by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik. Originally called the "Magic Cube" by its inventor, Ernő Rubik, this puzzle was renamed "Rubik's Cube" by Ideal Toys in 1980[1] and won the German Game of the Year special award for Best Puzzle that year. It is said to be the world's best-selling toy, with over 300,000,000 Rubik's Cubes being sold worldwide to date.[2] In a classic Rubik's Cube, each of the six faces is covered by 9 stickers, among six solid colors (traditionally being white, yellow, orange, red, blue, and green). A pivot mechanism enables each face to turn independently, thus mixing up the colors. For the puzzle to be solved, each face must be a solid color.
Many have tried to solve and there are "wunderkinds" who can do it in seconds. There is even a "YouTube of a toddler still sitting in a high chair who can solve it in minutes.
There are some short cuts to solving it. You can carefully peel off the laminated stickers and carefully place them back on the cube to appear as if you have solved it. Or you can break apart the cube and carefully snap it back into place again to appear to solve it.
Our son Jakob who will be 9 next month discovered the Rubik's cube and made it his goal to try and solve it. He was able, in this day of internet to download instructions to help him solve the puzzle. He practiced and practiced sometimes succeeding sometimes failing. After a couple of weeks, he now has mastered solving it without the instructions. His record is under four minutes no matter how I scramble it up for him. He also has gotten creative and has managed to learn how to make designs out of the colorful cubes. He will be posting his achievement on YouTube sometime this week end.
Sometimes we get caught in the Rubik’s cube of life. Our lives get all scrambled up and when we try to solve the puzzle we get to the point where we cannot get our lives back in the order of the pattern of the cube. We sometimes try and take short cuts denying we are doing so and saying "we are okay no problems here!" We have the instructions in solving life's dilemmas in the Bible. As we practice and practice the instructions given to us by the Word of God, we become pretty proficient when our cub e get's all screwed up. There are times when after much practice of using God's Word, that we remember the instructions with having the Bible right in front of us. The challenge is that Life's Rubik Cube does not have one solution because unlike the Rubik's Cube our lives are way more complicated and hard to unscramble even after many years of practice. That is why the study of Bible and memorizing the God's Word is a lifetime activity and we discover new things all the time.
Romans 11:33 says - "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" Not that we cannot know but that it is incredibly difficult for us to simply sit and skim through it. Reading, studying and practicing God's Word is a lifetime journey.
And we never have to be bored thinking we knew something already or that we have attained the unnecessary use of the Bible for our lives because...
Lamentations 3:23 says - "Great is his faithfulness; his [God's] mercies begin afresh each day"
The Rubik's Cube of life presents challenges to us beyond comprehension. We may try and fudge our way out or give up all together, but the solution to the puzzle is as close as God's Word...
Psalm 199:42 - "Then I will have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word.”

Weaning on the Everlasting Arms

2008-10-29T08:22:00.004-05:00

I have some farmers I chat with from time to time. My favorite question is to ask them what season are we in. There are things that farmers do depending on the time of year and depending on the weather. Right now they are weaning calves from their mothers. The weaning process was filled with spiritual analogies for me.
First they have to round up the calves. Thinking how hard is it to round up about a dozen calves he went on to tell me that they have around 350 of them. This made me think that round up just got a bit harder.
Interestingly enough calves are drinking from their mothers but are also getting fed by the farmer. He has this old truck with a feeding machine on the back. The calves have gotten used to the sound of the engine of the truck and the horn that they sound for the calves that usually all they have to do is hear the sound of the engine and they come running. Now if I were to drive out onto the field and blow my horn, they would even give me a second thought. They know the sound of the truck and horn that belongs to them and their feeding time.
Once they are there eating away at the truck they round them up into a big cattle truck. They take them to a corral they have built just for the purpose of weaning. They have to make sure it is a strong fence because the pull of the calf to its mother is very strong and these cows and calves do not like to be separated from each other. The interesting thing is that they could just take the calves clear over to another part of the farm far away from the mother. But it’s better for the health of the calf to be able to see its mother and get a little comfort from her presence. Calves during the weaning process have been known to come down with all kinds of illnesses that can be traced back to the stressfulness of being separated from its Mom.
They have to inoculate the calf for this very reason but they also leave the calf close enough to be reassured by its mother that she is still near.
Once in a while though they get a stubborn calf. Either they won't be rounded up, or fight the whole process and these calves are sold out right losing all connection to their mom because of their stubbornness.
I thought that this whole process was interesting and I am sure those reading this can see the spiritual illustrations. The truck sound and Jesus saying the sheep know their shepherds voice. The desire of some to stay in the milk of the word being fed by someone else and not growing in maturity to feed themselves. The stubbornness and rebellion to fight the maturing process and being set aside from doing great work because of it.
James 5:7 - Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

Youth is wasted on the young

2008-10-24T09:21:00.002-05:00

As I was working with our new youth drama and music team I felt a slight tingling of deja vu. Mostly in their teens I remembered when I was their age and felt young in heart and spirit, but old in body. They seemed to be so full of energy and stamina. I on the other hand, well, my mind is writing checks my body can't cash. I have Type 2 diabetes, a bad knee, heel spurs, (very very painful especially in the morning), I have gained ten pounds since arriving here in Waynoka and my i wear tri-focals.
I need to check out that life-time warranty....
How can we inspire the young to see what is ahead? That they do not live forever and that they will start to have bodies like me. I want so much for them to see the incredible truth in Ecclesiastes 12:1 - "Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living."
Mind you I am the happiest and most fulfilled I have ever been in my Christian life, but there is a great truth in that verse.
Colossians 3:17 says: "And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father."
Oh that we could aspire to this and inspire others as well.
My prayer today!

Obedience in small things...

2008-10-23T10:35:00.002-05:00

It has been quite windy here in Oklahoma past few days. A friend of mine who lives out of town but works in town decided to put out his garbage can a day early so he would not forget and miss garbage day. With the wind the trash can fell over a couple of times. On one occasion, some of the paper blew out of the can and he had to chase some of it down. Not a young man it was frustrating to have to fight the wind to get the trash blowing away from his every move toward the strewn garbage. Picking it all up, he noticed two small pieces of paper in the alley quite a bit a ways from him. Two small pieces of paper which he thought by the time he got to the paper the wind would challenge his efforts again. And what difference would those two pieces of paper make if he made the effort to retrieve them? His thoughts got the better of him though. He chased them down and surprisingly the wind complied not blowing them out of his reach. Looking at the papers in his hand he saw that they were two valuable documents that were thrown in the trash by accident. They were irreplaceable documents. Two documents accidently thrown in the trash and mysteriously paired together in the alley in his sight.
Sometimes we can in our best judgment and justification ignore little promptings to things we observe and see. We can look past them as irrelevant and not worth the effort of our commitment to do something abut them. My friend was prompted to look past what he thought were of two small pieces of garbage with no value to find that they were something of great value. And even if they turned out to be two small pieces of “trash”, the value of obedience to things we are prompted to do has GREAT VALUE! What is God asking you do to today? What things are we being shown that need attention? Are we ignoring them or chasing them down completing the tasks we are being prompted or asked to do? Luke 16:10 says - “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

Playing Games

2008-10-20T08:46:00.003-05:00

Yesterday afternoon my eight year old son Jakob came up to me with a piece of white wrapping paper with scribbling all over it. He also had a deck of Uno cards and a pair of dice. He asks me, "Wanna play a new game I made"

I said sure. What he did was sit down and create a game that is a cross between Monopoly©, Uno©, and Chutes and Ladders©. Suffice it to say I played and was quite impressed. It still had a few kinks in the game because he had in his mind what the rules were when he created it but as the game progressed, (I was losing), he felt sorry for me and wanted to give me a break by changing the rules to help me progress. I told him how much I enjoyed playing and that if the rules were the way he made them then I would play by them win or lose and enjoy the game.

I think we do that in our lives. Life is not a game but we could visualize it like a game. We are going around a board, winning money, back tracking, even going to jail and in life there is no get out of jail card. We want to try and change the rules, even ignoring the rules that are written down for us, (The Bible). Not completely changing them but tweaking them to suit us and make us feel like we are not losing, even tweaking them to make it look like we are winning.

God did not intend the "rule book" to be about making sure we keep the rules, in fact we cannot always keep the rules. The rule books tells us that we are to try and keep the rules but when we don’t we have a referee who comes to our aid to help us. It is God’s Word that is there as a rule book to guide us, teach us, and help us in life. The boundaries it brings are safety features to keep us on the right track and when we get off the right track it is not the "Rule Book" that ultimately saves us. It is the Creator of the "game", the Creator of our life, who using the rule book gives us encouragement even when we are losing, so we do not lose heart and especially when we are winning not too lose sight of what the goal of the game is, to bring glory to the Creator of the game, the Creator of life.

I ended up losing, caught in a loop of a slide taking me back to the start of the game, but I am excited to see the incredible imagination and creativeness of my son. I am even more thankful for his game reminding me of the Creator of my game, my life and it makes me thankful for His Son, Jesus Christ who when we trust by faith we: "No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." Romans 8:37 (NLT)

Our new building has a new floor

2008-10-17T11:28:00.003-05:00

It is something to see. Half court gym in two tone wood with lines drawn for a free throw line, key and three point line. It is so shiny and new.

Pretty soon kids from all over town will be coming to play and it will lose some of its beauty, shine and glimmer. The smell of fresh building materials and paint will disappear and maybe even the novelty will wear off...

What happens then? All the newness and the excitement of the new gym will be gone. There must be more than having something that is the flavor of the month. There must be in the minds of those who had the vision to have it built and the future of those who benefit from its use the long term effect it should be in our lives.

Life seems to be that way. Every Christmas we get new things and when they get old they are not new anymore and sometimes we just lose interest. God is always giving us new things. His mercies are new every morning, (Lamentations 3:23), but we treat them like old mercies. Old news that do not interest us. The new mercies and grace of our Lord does not have the impact it had when we were new to tasting them, when we needed them the most.

We need them now. We need to rejoice in the new things and cherish them as they get old. They must be treated with respect and understanding.

Yes this new building sure looks incredible. My prayer is that eventually as the new building becomes an old and older building, the lives that have been impacted by it will feel new, every day!

Waynoka Homecoming

2008-10-16T16:01:00.002-05:00

Tonight is our local High School's Homecoming. The Big game is tonight and everyone is dressed in the school colors, t-shirts, sweatshirts, (I even have a Waynoka RailRoader's Hat to wear. At the beginning of each game the cheerleaders get all the spectators in the stands to come opn the field for what is called a spirit line. The players when they come one the field run in between us breaking through a paper banner with all of us cheering them on. I have a dream a vision for the community of Waynoka in a spiritual sense. The vision I have is that their is a God loving people who form a "Spirit Line" for me and for you, supporting, cheering, encouraging us on to the field of battle, the Big Game! There is something inspiring about that moment when they are running out onto the field. My prayer? We would all feel that inspiration and have a field full of people in our "spirit line" cheering us on: win or lose, the echoes of their cheers ringing in our ears for us!

Moves in my lifetime and since being married

2008-10-02T13:14:00.004-05:00

Many times people ask how many times we have moved in our lives. Here is the chronology and dates of every move in my life and since Michelle and I have been married.

Moves in my lifetime
1 1955 Corpus Christie TX-Alexandria, LA
2 1957 Alexandria, LA- Woodlawn, NY
3 1958 Woodlawn, NY-Blasedell, NY
4 1960 Blasedell, NY-Lackawanna, NY
5 1961 Lackawanna, NY-Lackawanna, NY
6 1962 Lackawanna, NY-West Seneca, NY
7 1977 West Seneca, NY-West Seneca, NY
8 1978 West Seneca, NY-Waukesha, WI
9 1979 Waukesha, Wi-West Seneca, NY
(Married June 23, 1979)
10 1979 West Seneca, NY-Waukesha, WI
11 1979 Wisconsin, WI-Buffalo, NY
12 1979 Buffalo, NY-England
13 1980 England-Buffalo, NY
14 1980 Buffalo, NY-Brantford, ON Canada
15 1980 Brantford, ON Canada-Wisconsin, WI
16 1981 Wisconsin, WI-Durham, ON Canada
17 1982 Durham, ON Canada-Camdenton, MO
18 1983 Camdenton, MO-St.Catharines, ON Canada
19 1983 St.Catharines, ON Canada-Brampton, ON Canada
20 1983 Brampton, ON Canada-Walkerton, ON Canada
21 1983 Walkerton, ON Canada-Hanover, ON Canada
22 1984 Hanover, ON Canada-Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines
23 1985 Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines-Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines
24 1991 Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines-Dinalupihan, Bataan, Philippines
25 1993 Dinalupihan, Bataan, Philippines-Mandaluyong, Manila, Philippines
26 1993 Mandaluyong, Manila, Philippines-Fort Erie, ON Canada
27 1995 Fort Erie, ON Canada-Niagara Falls, ON Canada
28 1997 Niagara Falls, ON Canada-Gilroy,CA
29 1998 Gilroy,CA-Los Banos,CA
30 2003 Los Banos,CA-Oxnard,CA
31 2005 Oxnard,CA-Lynnwood,WA
32 2007 Lynnwood,WA- Emporia, KS
33 2008 Emporia, KS-Waynoka, OK

Title Page, Introduction and first chapter, (of four and conclusion) of My Final Research Paper

2008-10-02T13:07:00.003-05:00

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

PAULINE FOOTPRINTS: LESSONS FROM THE MASTER MISSIONARY

A PAPER SUBMITTED TO DR. JAMES B. JOSEPH
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE COURSE NBST 522

LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

BY
MICHAEL PADDY

LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2008

Introduction
Paul is both a historical and Biblical figure who had a direct impact and influence on his time and ours through his actions, character, and his writings. A study of the Life of Paul from the Book of Acts is profitable for any serious student of missiology. It can teach someone how their preparation for the work of missions, their conversion experience and calling by God to the ministry can help them be a good missionary, as well as understand how the many circumstances that a missionary may confront can be faced with the same love, courage and purpose Paul had thus making one a great missionary.
Pauline Footprints will walk us through some snapshots of Paul’s life in the Book of Acts from his pre-conversion to conversion experience to the end of the Book of Acts where he is a servant, prisoner, and Apostle of Jesus Christ. It will show us along the way how all of this can influence and disciple us as we commit ourselves as missionaries in the task of the Great Commission.
Lesson One: Paul the Man
I believe that there is a direct correlation of a person’s background and upbringing that can be an important aspect of that person’s future calling in missionary work. Is that correlation true of Paul?
Except for Paul’s statements and our observations in Acts and his epistles, there is really no accurate way to trace the life of Saul the Pharisee, before becoming Paul the convert, disciple, missionary, and Apostle. So we must rely on the story evidence we read from these sources to understand “Paul the Man.”
Paul’s Birthright: Born in the city of Tarsus, he was, most likely, a Roman citizen through his father. His citizenship seemed to have been a divine appointment from God. It gave him hearing among some of those who were his captors and as well as providing a sure hearing in Rome before Caesar.
A great example of God using Paul’s birthright in Paul’s missionary work is found near the end of Acts 21. In Acts 21 we see Paul conferring with the church leaders, getting their counsel and then going to the temple. After being at the temple for seven days, he was recognized by some Asian Jews and after some rabble rousing by these Asian Jews, Paul was accosted and dragged from the temple by them to be killed.
Acts 21: 30 – 31, “Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”
Only the intervention of the Roman tribune and soldiers prevented Paul’s death. Trying to figure out what had happened and trying to sort out the details of the problem, with the mob so out of control they literally had to carry Paul out of there taking him to their barracks to try and sort out the problem. This is where his birthright plays a significant role in his missionary work:
Acts 21:37 – 40 –“As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language…”
There is a sense of divine providence when Paul, Saul of Tarsus was given the freedom to preach on the steps of the barracks of the Roman tribune after telling the tribune he was born in Tarsus. The fingerprints of God are not just for our lives following our conversion. God can even use our place of physical birth as open door of opportunity for us to serve him.
Paul’s Educational Background and Life Experience: Another part of Paul’s life that played an intricate role as a missionary was his educational background and life experiences. When I say educational background and life experiences I mean before conversion or early in life. This is where God had his hand on our lives long before we knew him and how he uses these things in our missionary endeavors.
In Acts 22, Paul on the steps of the barracks of the Roman Tribune begins to address the crowd.
Acts 22:1 – 3- “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
“And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet”
Paul takes the time to mention his educational background and life experience. First notice that he uses the language of the people. Speaking in Greek in chapter 21 her reverts to Hebrew in chapter 22. Addressing a Jewish crowd, it is logical to speak a language which is understand and respected by the hearers. Languages are so important in the understanding and connection to the target group we might be called to serve. It shows respect for the people and helps the message to be clearly understood by them. Paul’s having learned both Greek and Hebrew was a great advantage in being a missionary. How advantageous was it? The passage says that when they heard him speak in Hebrew, they grew silent. A once murderous, loud mob became soft and listened.
“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you…And he said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city”
He addresses the mob as fathers and brothers, staking his claim as a Jew born in Tarsus but raised in Jerusalem. How much more can this connection get? He refers to his nationality and though he is from Tarsus, Jerusalem was his home. Some there were Jewish converts from other cities and countries and made the trip to Jerusalem, the Holy Place, infrequently. Paul was telling them I was raised here.
“I am a Jew…educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers”
He was educated by one of the most prominent Jewish teachers of their times, Gamaliel! Gamaliel was very influential in Jerusalem. It was he who when Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin and threatened, told the group to be careful not to judge Peter and John too harshly before knowing if this movement was being advocated by Peter and John or was from God.
“being zealous for God as all of you are this day.”
After using his birthright, cultural background and religious and linguist training, he tells them his life experience, zealous for God like them.
Putting all of Paul the man’s pre-conversion life in perspective we can see how God is at work in our lives long before we might fulfill our calling of service for him. Even then we must as Paul, prioritize these events in our lives comparing them to the ultimate outcome of our Christian life and calling. Paul writes from prison:
Philippians 3:4– 9- though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
We must be careful not to think of our ability to serve God only after we have become Christian, but as we can see from Paul the man’s example, God can and will use our educational background and life experiences to help us fulfill our missionary calling. Just as God used Paul the man, we too can see the hand of God on us moving us toward a conversion experience and also to help equip us to become great missionaries.

Okay...use it or lose it...I can't get the blog to do what I want

2008-10-01T12:18:00.001-05:00

It must have a mind of its own.

I am not sure if this blog is supposed to stand alone and I start a new one every time or if paddysprogress is the blog and I add to it what I want to say from day to day...And the picture, how do I change the picture on this blog?

I am slowly going crazy and finding it difficult to use this and I must now stop so that I can go and have a decent nervous breakdown and resume this later.

Are we truly committed disciples?

2008-07-03T11:20:00.000-05:00

Real Discipleship starts in our hearts! We must first and foremost be convinced that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. Dying for us and our sins. We must believe that and if that is what we believe we must realize the importance of this belief! Sometimes I think we think of our Christianity like I think of the Buffalo Bills. I love the Buffalo Bills, especially during football season. I cheer them on and am a fan win or lose. I love to watch the games and really get into it. But during the week before the game I busy myself with my own personal activities. I am not permanently always ever thinking about the Bills. I have other things that preoccupy me. My life. My everyday activities. My own interests.
Isn't that how you would describe most Christians. Sunday morning disciples who in panic emergencies put on their Sunday best for a short time and then back to the everyday life of busy me?
If we are the church and we are supposed to be committed to Jesus Christ as His disciples, are we not that 24/7? Should not every thought, imagination, act, work and play be captured by Him?
Can we ever really become Real Disciples walking through this life thinking of God only Sunday to Sunday?
Discipleship...must be a 24/7 activity alive with the knowledge of Jesus Christ, who He is and what He has done for us. The requirements of a full faith follower..? A faith that sustains us, gives life to us and others that is kind, caring loving and sharing...just as Christ did for us!

How can it be done?

2008-06-27T10:22:00.000-05:00

Where do you start?
So where does it all start? How do we convince those who need convincing? How do we care for those who think they either do not need caring or are not worth caring for?
The overwhelming need(s) of any one individual can be all encompassing but what about 5 - 10 - 20 - 100 people all in need, all needing a shepherd whether they think they do or not!?
GO to the Lord, seek His face for yourself and be built up in grace, love, understanding, strength and courage!
Joshua 1:8,9
Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
The answer of many answers for me today!
Mike Paddy

New Move

2008-06-17T10:05:00.000-05:00

29 years of Marriage and another move. 24th to be exact. Wow...

I try to figure out what it is that God is teaching me through so many moves to other places, other homes, churches, friends....

There are times when I feel like Abraham. By faith going to a place not seen with eyes but only by the yes of faith....

Thank you Lord for guiding us, directing us, giving us a place to live and minister...we are farther away from family than we have ever been in our lives but Michelle, Jakob and I are willing to live and work and play here under your wonderful providential hand. We look for you and wait on you looking for you in everything we do!

Mike Paddy

2007-05-20T22:01:00.001-05:00

Paddy's Progress Version 2.0

2007-04-11T10:30:00.000-05:00

Started this last year but somehow they changed something so that now I start from scratch. Well that is okay. New things. Hard to accept things as new. we hold onto old things as sacred and perfect when in reality nothing stays too much the same. Well God does! Halleluja!